More Like this

1. One hundred research questions in conservation physiology for generating actionable evidence to inform conservation policy and practice

   https://doi.org/10.1093/conphys/coab009  

   Cooke, Steven J; Bergman, Jordanna N; Madliger, Christine L; Cramp, Rebecca L; Beardall, John; Burness, Gary; Clark, Timothy D; Dantzer, Ben; de_la_Barrera, Erick; Fangue, Nann A; et al (January 2021, Conservation Physiology)

   Haddon, Lindsay (Ed.)

   Abstract Environmental change and biodiversity loss are but two of the complex challenges facing conservation practitioners and policy makers. Relevant and robust scientific knowledge is critical for providing decision-makers with the actionable evidence needed to inform conservation decisions. In the Anthropocene, science that leads to meaningful improvements in biodiversity conservation, restoration and management is desperately needed. Conservation Physiology has emerged as a discipline that is well-positioned to identify the mechanisms underpinning population declines, predict responses to environmental change and test different in situ and ex situ conservation interventions for diverse taxa and ecosystems. Here we present a consensus list of 10 priority research themes. Within each theme we identify specific research questions (100 in total), answers to which will address conservation problems and should improve the management of biological resources. The themes frame a set of research questions related to the following: (i) adaptation and phenotypic plasticity; (ii) human–induced environmental change; (iii) human–wildlife interactions; (iv) invasive species; (v) methods, biomarkers and monitoring; (vi) policy, engagement and communication; (vii) pollution; (viii) restoration actions; (ix) threatened species; and (x) urban systems. The themes and questions will hopefully guide and inspire researchers while also helping to demonstrate to practitioners and policy makers the many ways in which physiology can help to support their decisions. 

   more » « less
2. Emerging Technologies and Approaches for In Situ, Autonomous Observing in the Arctic

   https://doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2022.127  

   Lee, Craig; DeGrandpre, Michael; Guthrie, John; Hill, Victoria; Kwok, Ron; Morison, James; Cox, Christopher; Singh, Hanumant; Stanton, Timothy; Wilkinson, Jeremy (January 2022, Oceanography)

   Understanding and predicting Arctic change and its impacts on global climate requires broad, sustained observations of the atmosphere-ice-ocean system, yet technological and logistical challenges severely restrict the temporal and spatial scope of observing efforts. Satellite remote sensing provides unprecedented, pan-Arctic measurements of the surface, but complementary in situ observations are required to complete the picture. Over the past few decades, a diverse range of autonomous platforms have been developed to make broad, sustained observations of the ice-free ocean, often with near-real-time data delivery. Though these technologies are well suited to the difficult environmental conditions and remote logistics that complicate Arctic observing, they face a suite of additional challenges, such as limited access to satellite services that make geolocation and communication possible. This paper reviews new platform and sensor developments, adaptations of mature technologies, and approaches for their use, placed within the framework of Arctic Ocean observing needs. 

   more » « less
3. Understanding links between water-quality variables and nitrate concentration in freshwater streams using high frequency sensor data

   https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0287640  

   Kermorvant, Claire; Liquet, Benoit; Litt, Guy; Mengersen, Kerrie; Peterson, Erin E.; Hyndman, Rob J.; Jones, Jeremy B.; Leigh, Catherine (June 2023, PLOS ONE)

   Larsen, Stefano (Ed.)

   Real-time monitoring usingin-situsensors is becoming a common approach for measuring water-quality within watersheds. High-frequency measurements produce big datasets that present opportunities to conduct new analyses for improved understanding of water-quality dynamics and more effective management of rivers and streams. Of primary importance is enhancing knowledge of the relationships between nitrate, one of the most reactive forms of inorganic nitrogen in the aquatic environment, and other water-quality variables. We analysed high-frequency water-quality data fromin-situsensors deployed in three sites from different watersheds and climate zones within the National Ecological Observatory Network, USA. We used generalised additive mixed models to explain the nonlinear relationships at each site between nitrate concentration and conductivity, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, water temperature, and elevation. Temporal auto-correlation was modelled with an auto-regressive–moving-average (ARIMA) model and we examined the relative importance of the explanatory variables. Total deviance explained by the models was high for all sites (99%). Although variable importance and the smooth regression parameters differed among sites, the models explaining the most variation in nitrate contained the same explanatory variables. This study demonstrates that building a model for nitrate using the same set of explanatory water-quality variables is achievable, even for sites with vastly different environmental and climatic characteristics. Applying such models will assist managers to select cost-effective water-quality variables to monitor when the goals are to gain a spatial and temporal in-depth understanding of nitrate dynamics and adapt management plans accordingly. 

   more » « less
4. Autonomous in situ measurements of freshwater alkalinity

   https://doi.org/10.1002/lom3.10404  

   Shangguan, Qipei; Lai, Chun‐Ze; Beatty, Cory M.; Young, Fischer L.; Spaulding, Reggie S.; DeGrandpre, Michael D. (December 2020, Limnology and Oceanography: Methods)

   Abstract Total alkalinity (A_T) is an important parameter in the study of aquatic biogeochemical cycles, chemical speciation modeling, and many other important fundamental and anthropogenic (e.g., industrial) processes. We know little about its short‐term variability, however, because studies are based on traditional bottle sampling typically with coarse temporal resolution. In this work, an autonomous A_Tsensor, named the Submersible Autonomous Moored Instrument for Alkalinity (SAMI‐alk), was tested for freshwater applications. A comprehensive evaluation was conducted in the laboratory using freshwater standards. The results demonstrated excellent precision and accuracy (± 0.1%–0.4%) over the A_Trange from 800 to 3000 μmol L⁻¹. The system had no drift over an 8 d test and also demonstrated limited sensitivity to variations in temperature and ionic strength. Three SAMI‐alks were deployed for 23 d in the Clark Fork River, Montana, with a suite of other sensors. Compared to discrete samples, in situ accuracy for the three instruments were within 10–20 μmol L⁻¹(0.3–0.6%), indicating good performance considering the challenges of in situ measurements in a high sediment, high biofouling riverine environment with large and rapid changes in temperature. These data reveal the complex A_Tdynamics that are typically missed by coarse sampling. We observed A_Tdiel cycles as large as 60–80 μmol L⁻¹, as well as a rapid change caused by a runoff event. Significant errors in inorganic carbon system modeling result if these short‐term variations are not considered. This study demonstrates both the feasibility of the technology and importance of high‐resolution A_Tmeasurements. 

   more » « less
5. Lotic‐SIPCO2 : Adaptation of an open‐source CO₂ sensor system and examination of associated emission uncertainties across a range of stream sizes and land uses

   https://doi.org/10.1002/lom3.10600  

   Robison, Andrew L.; Koenig, Lauren E.; Potter, Jody D.; Snyder, Lisle E.; Hunt, Christopher W.; McDowell, William H.; Wollheim, Wilfred M. (February 2024, Limnology and Oceanography: Methods)

   Abstract River networks play a crucial role in the global carbon cycle, as relevant sources of carbon dioxide (CO₂) to the atmosphere. Advancements in high‐frequency monitoring in aquatic environments have enabled measurement of dissolved CO₂concentration at temporal resolutions essential for studying carbon variability and evasion from these dynamic ecosystems. Here, we describe the adaptation, deployment, and validation of an open‐source and relatively low‐cost in situpCO₂sensor system for lotic ecosystems, the lotic‐SIPCO2. We tested the lotic‐SIPCO2 in 10 streams that spanned a range of land cover and basin size. Key system adaptations for lotic environments included prevention of biofouling, configuration for variable stage height, and reduction of headspace equilibration time. We then examined which input parameters contribute the most to uncertainty in estimating CO₂emission rates and found scaling factors related to the gas exchange velocity were the most influential when CO₂concentration was significantly above saturation. Near saturation, sensor measurement ofpCO₂contributed most to uncertainty in estimating CO₂emissions. We also found high‐frequency measurements ofpCO₂were not necessary to accurately estimate median emission rates given the CO₂regimes of our streams, but daily to weekly sampling was sufficient. High‐frequency measurements ofpCO₂remain valuable for exploring in‐stream metabolic variability, source partitioning, and storm event dynamics. Our adaptations to the SIPCO2 offer a relatively affordable and robust means of monitoring dissolved CO₂in lotic ecosystems. Our findings demonstrate priorities and related considerations in the design of monitoring projects of dissolved CO₂and CO₂evasion dynamics more broadly. 

   more » « less