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Using machine learning to advance synthesis and use of conservation and environmental evidence

Rapid growth in environmental research (Li & Zhao 2015) presents a potential wealth of information for conservation decision‐making. Evidence synthesis methods (e.g. systematic maps, reviews, meta‐analyses) (Pullin & Knight 2009) are critical for garnering actionable insight from published research, yet come with high resource demands (time and funding) that are prohibitive for meeting short policy windows (Elliott et al. 2014) and balancing trade‐offs between conservation planning and implementation.

Global shifts in the phenological synchrony of species interactions over recent decades

Phenological responses to climate change (e.g., earlier leaf-out or egg hatch date) are now well documented and clearly linked to rising temperatures in recent decades. Such shifts in the phenologies of interacting species may lead to shifts in their synchrony, with cascading community and ecosystem consequences. To date, single-system studies have provided no clear picture, either finding synchrony shifts may be extremely prevalent [Mayor SJ, et al. (2017) Sci Rep 7:1902] or relatively uncommon [Iler AM, et al.

Rivers are social-“ecological systems: Time to integrate human dimensions into riverscape ecology and management

Comparative terrestrial feed and land use of an aquaculture-dominant world

Reducing food production pressures on the environment while feeding an ever-growing human population is one of the grand challenges facing humanity. The magnitude of environmental impacts from food production, largely around land use, has motivated evaluation of the environmental and health benefits of shifting diets, typically away from meat toward other sources, including seafood. However, total global catch of wild seafood has remained relatively unchanged for the last two decades, suggesting increased demand for seafood will mostly have to rely on aquaculture (i.e., aquatic farming).

Understanding the role of parasites in food webs using the group model

Parasites are ubiquitous and have been shown to influence macroscopic measures of ecological network structure, such as connectance and robustness, as well as local structure, such as subgraph frequencies.

Financing the sustainable management of Rwanda's protected areas

Rwanda's Nyungwe National Park is a biodiversity hotspot with the most endemic species in the ecoregion and the highest number of threatened species internationally. Nyungwe supplies critical ecosystem services to the Rwandan population including water provisioning and tourism services. Tourism in the Park has strong potential for financing enhanced visitor experiences and the sustainable management of the Park.

Comparing the cost effectiveness of nature-based and coastal adaptation: A case study from the Gulf Coast of the United States

Coastal risks are increasing from both development and climate change. Interest is growing in the protective role that coastal nature-based measures (or green infrastructure), such as reefs and wetlands, can play in adapting to these risks. However, a lack of quantitative information on their relative costs and benefits is one principal factor limiting their use more broadly.

Understanding the Impacts of Research Synthesis

Research synthesis is the integration of existing knowledge and research findings pertinent to an issue. The aim of synthesis is to increase the generality and applicability of those findings and to develop new knowledge through the process of integration. Synthesis is promoted as an approach that deals with the challenge of öinformation overload’, delivering products that further our understanding of problems and distil relevant evidence for decision-making.

Ten simple rules for writing statistical book reviews

Uncertainty analysis and robust areas of high and low modeled human impact on the global oceans