Laura J. Martin

Mapping where ecologists work: biases in the global distribution of terrestrial ecological observations

Although the geographical context of ecological observations shapes ecological theory, the global distribution of ecological studies has never been analyzed. Here, we document the global distribution and context (protected status, biome, anthrome, and net primary productivity) of 2573 terrestrial study sites reported in recent publications (2004–2009) of 10 highly cited ecology journals. We find evidence of several geographical biases, including overrepresentation of protected areas, temperate deciduous woodlands, and wealthy countries. Even within densely settled or agricultural regions, ecologists tend to study “natural” fragments. Such biases in trendsetting journals may limit the scalability of ecological theory and hinder conservation efforts in the 75% of the terrestrial world where humans live and work.

Trkb signaling in pericytes is required for cardiac microvessel stabilization

Pericyte and vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) recruitment to the developing vasculature is an important step in blood vessel maturation. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), expressed by endothelial cells, activates the receptor tyrosine kinase TrkB to stabilize the cardiac microvasculature in the perinatal period. However, the effects of the BDNF/TrkB signaling on pericytes/SMCs and the mechanisms downstream of TrkB that promote vessel maturation are unknown. To confirm the involvement of TrkB in vessel maturation, we evaluated TrkB deficient (trkb −/−) embryos and observed severe cardiac vascular abnormalities leading to lethality in late gestation to early prenatal life. Ultrastructural analysis demonstrates that trkb−/− embryos exhibit defects in endothelial cell integrity and perivascular edema. As TrkB is selectively expressed by pericytes and SMCs in the developing cardiac vasculature, we generated mice deficient in TrkB in these cells. Mice with TrkB deficiency in perivascular cells exhibit reduced pericyte/SMC coverage of the cardiac microvasculature, abnormal endothelial cell ultrastructure, and increased vascular permeability. To dissect biological actions and the signaling pathways downstream of TrkB in pericytes/SMCs, human umbilical SMCs were treated with BDNF. This induced membranous protrusions and cell migration, events dependent on myosin light chain phosphorylation. Moreover, inhibition of Rho GTPase and the Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) prevented membrane protrusion and myosin light chain phosphorylation in response to BDNF. These results suggest an important role for BDNF in regulating migration of TrkB-expressing pericytes/SMCs to promote cardiac blood vessel ensheathment and functional integrity during development.

Discovering Ecologically Relevant Knowledge from Published Studies through Geosemantic Searching

It is easier to search the globe for research on the genes of a local plant than it is to find local research on that plants ecology. As a result, ecologists are often unaware of published local research and unlikely to find relevant studies from similar environments worldwide. Location information in ecological studies can be harnessed to enable geographic knowledge searches and could be standardized to make searches more fruitful. To demonstrate this potential, we developed the Journal Map Web site (www.journalmap.org). Easy access to geographic distributions of knowledge opens new possibilities for using ecological research to detect and interpret ecological patterns, evaluate current ecological knowledge, and facilitate knowledge creation. We call on journals and publishers to support standard reporting of study locations in publications and metadata, and we advocate georeferencing past studies.

A Framework for Ecosystem Services Valuation

In the recent article, “Managing Invasive Aquatic Plants in a Changing System: Strategic Consideration of Ecosystem Services,” Hershner and Havens (2008) reject the need to manage certain aquatic plant invaders. The authors claim that Phragmites australis invasion is acceptable because it provides three ecosystem services: habitat, soil stabilization, and nutrient uptake and retention. We strongly disagree with this conclusion. Without a comprehensive valuation framework, the concept of ecosystem services is of little use to decision makers. The services referenced by Hersher and Havens may be of lesser value than the services lost as a result of P. australis invasion. Using P. australis invasion as an example, we suggest a framework for ecosystem services valuation that incorporates three important considerations: quality of service, weighting of services, and time frame.

A case of inverted insertion assessed by R and G banding

Cytogenetic studies in a 2-year-old boy referred to our laboratory for developmental delay showed an unusual karyotype with a three break rearrangement. R and G banding were both necessary to determine the exact nature of the rearrangement which is described as 46, XY,inv ins(16;3)(q22;p26p13). Several features coincide with the reported description of another patient where 3p26 was missing, and the coincidence is explained as a position effect.

Historically browsed jewelweed populations exhibit greater tolerance to deer herbivory than historically protected populations

Summary 1. Browsing by overabundant white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) has altered ecological relationships in forest communities across eastern North America. Recent but limited work suggests that deer browsing also selects for particular plant defensive traits. 2. We hypothesized that browsing by deer has imposed selection on defensive traits in an annual native wildflower, orange jewelweed (Impatiens capensis). 3. To test this hypothesis, we collected individuals from 26 natural populations across a 5000 km 2 area in New York State, USA. Half of these populations were historically protected from deer and half were exposed to heavy browsing. We planted individuals in common gardens subjected to natural deer browsing or no browsing. 4. Individuals from historically browsed populations exhibited significantly higher tolerance than those from historically protected populations. Herbivory by deer reduced lifetime fruit production by only 20% in historically browsed populations, as opposed to 57% in historically protected populations. Two mechanisms were correlated with this increased tolerance: increased number of flowering days and increased fruits per flowering node. 5. Synthesis. The increased tolerance of historically browsed populations suggests that these populations evolved increased tolerance or that historically protected populations lost tolerance over time. Variation in tolerance traits in native plant species may allow them to persist in the face of rapid ecological change.

Distribution and abundance of nearctic–neotropical songbird migrants in a forest restoration site in southern Costa Rica

∗ Department of Environmental Studies, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA †Research Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Mawson Bld., Room G39, University of Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia ‡Department of Natural Resources, Fernow Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA § 36 Sargent Camp Rd. Hancock, NH 03449, USA ∗∗ Organization for Tropical Studies, Apartado 73–8257, San Vito de Coto Brus, Costa Rica (Accepted 14 August 2008)

Monitoring Essential Biodiversity Variables at the Species Level

The Group on Earth Observations Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO BON) is developing a monitoring framework around a set of Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs) which aims at facilitating data integration, spatial scaling and contributing to the filling of gaps. Here we build on this framework to explore the monitoring of EBV classes at the species level: species populations, species traits and community composition. We start by discussing cross-cutting issues on species monitoring such as the identification of the question to be addressed, the choice of variables, taxa and spatial sampling scheme. Next, we discuss how to monitor EBVs for specific taxa, including mammals, amphibians, butterflies and plants. We show how the monitoring of species EBVs allows monitoring changes in the supply of ecosystem services. We conclude with a discussion of challenges in upscaling local observations to global EBVs and how indicator and model development can help address this challenge.

Designing Autonomy: Opportunities for New Wildness in the Anthropocene

Maintaining wild places increasingly involves intensive human interventions. Several recent projects use semi-automated mediating technologies to enact conservation and restoration actions, including re-seeding and invasive species eradication. Could a deep-learning system sustain the autonomy of nonhuman ecological processes at designated sites without direct human interventions? We explore here the prospects for automated curation of wild places, as well as the technical and ethical questions that such co-creation poses for ecologists, conservationists, and designers. Our goal is to foster innovative approaches to creating and maintaining the autonomy of evolving ecological systems.

Transparency and Control of Autonomous Wildness: A Reply to Galaz and Mouazen

Galaz and Mouazenc [1] argue that autonomous curation of wild places requires ‘algorithmic transparency, accountability, and public deliberation’. We completely agree. These are requirements for any fair and sustainable social endeavor, with or without algorithms. All conservation and design projects should meet these standards for open operation and stakeholder participation [2].