Conservation gardening: Green spaces in Germany could contribute far more to biodiversity conservation

Conservation gardening: Green spaces in Germany could contribute far more to biodiversity conservation

Rising non-native cover in the Santa Monica Mountains threatens native biodiversity and increases fire risk

A new analysis of plant data in the Santa Monica Mountains, in Sounthern California published in the journal Ecosphere shows a steady increase in non-native plant cover since 2014, and rapid regrowth of non-native annual grass and herbaceous species after the 2018 Woolsey Fire, which burned nearly 80% of the entire region. Furthermore, a region of dense non-native cover was found in the Northern Simi Hills region where biodiversity is significantly low and the native species are at risk of further reduction. These results indicate that the Santa Monica Mountains are at high risk of losing the native plants that support their unique ecosystem. In addition, the invasive plants that are spreading bring with them an increased risk of damaging wildfires.

Team finds reliable predictor of plant species persistence, coexistence

Like many ecological scientists, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign plant biology professor James O'Dwyer has spent much of his career searching for ways to measure and predict how specific plant communities will fare over time. Which species in a diverse population will persist and coexist? Which will decline? What factors might contribute to continuing biodiversity?