Global climate change has unforeseeable ramifications for the ecosystem of our planet Earth. In Europe, more than half of the vascular plant flora may become endangered by the year 2080 as a result of climatic changes. According to the Copernicus Program’s study of European municipalities, Budapest is one of the most affected cities by global warming. Urban climate conditions are considered similar to the changing global climate conditions. To find out how excess heat in urban environments affects the phenological flowering patterns of species we planted specimens representing 6 different life-forms of the Raunkiær system (phanerophytes, chamaephytes, hemicryptophytes, geophytes, hemitherophytes, therophytes). The species of the ex situ experiment were planted in two different mesoclimatic locations, in the ELTE Botanical Garden, Budapest and in the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences Gödöllő Botanical Garden. Each life-form was represented by at least 5 species and each species by 5-5 specimens in both locations. By recording phenological data we followed Primack’s method. All the species in the experiment showed an average of 7.62 days earlier flowering onset in Budapest. The maximum of the flowering showed 12.94 days of difference, while the end of flowering showed 2.9 days of difference, with the earlier being Budapest. There is a strong significant difference (P ˂ 0.001) in the onset of the flowering of Globularia cordifolia between the locations, regarding the peaks of flowering there is a strong significance (P ˂ 0.001) for Inula ensifolia, regarding the end of flowering there is a strong significance (P ˂ 0.001) for Polygonatum multiflorum. The average duration of the flowering of all species was 4.72 days longer in Budapest compared to Gödöllő. To clarify other driving forces and the role of abiotic parameters in the flowering phenology patterns, further study is required.

The microstructure of bones and teeth records individual growth and development in the form of incremental lines. In fossil bones, these features can be studied to infer important life history traits of extinct species, including growth rate and age at sexual and skeletal maturity. In fossil teeth, the analysis of incremental lines allows the estimation of rates and timings of tooth formation. Since mammalian dental development and biological events such as weaning are tightly correlated, estimations of dental formation time permits the reconstruction of the pace of life of prehistoric vertebrates.

Here, we present the results obtained from the histological analysis of bones and teeth of Eurygnathohippus hooijeri, an endemic hipparionine horse from the early Pliocene (5.2 Ma) site of Langebaanweg (South Africa). We studied 4 metapodials (two III-metacarpi and two III-metatarsi), 2 femora, as well as 3 first lower molars and 2 third lower molars to reconstruct key features of its life history, including size at birth, growth rate, age at skeletal maturity and age at reproductive maturity.

Our results revealed that this African horse followed a slow life history schedule, in which weaning and maturity occurred later as compared to similar-sized extant and extinct equids. Size at birth was comparable to that of large-bodied Miocene European equids, and newborn foals of E. hooijeri were likely smaller than those of extant and extinct Equus. Interestingly, we deduced different rates of growth from the bones and teeth, which raises the question about which of these mineralised tissues more accurately depicts the general growth rate of extinct vertebrates.

The study evaluated species diversity, including regeneration and growth dynamics of different naturally regenerated tree species in gaps of different sizes in a tropical moist semi-deciduous forest, Ghana. Twenty-three randomly selected gaps categorized as small (≤300 m²), medium (301–1000 m²), large (1001–2000 m²) and very large (>2000 m²) sizes were defined. Forty-one subsampling circular 1 m² plots at 2 m intervals were delineated within each gap. In total, 1468 individuals belonging to 85 species from 25 families and 65 genera were enumerated. Malvaceae (13 species) was the most diverse family, while Bignoniaceae, Clusiaceae, Lecythidaceae, Melastomataceae, Mimosaceae, Myristicaceae, Ochnaceae, Rutaceae, Santalaceae, and Urticaceae families were scarcely represented by only 1 species, respectively. Non-pioneer light demanding (NPLD) recorded the highest number of 38 species, followed by pioneers with 30 species, whereas shade-tolerant attained the lowest representatives of 17 species in regenerated species composition. All estimated diversity indices revealed improvements of species diversity in all gaps significantly. Though the small gaps showed no regeneration shift between pioneers and shade-tolerant, the other gap sizes did it at 62–82%. Medium and large gaps promoted natural regeneration at all distinguished diameter classes, however, pioneers and NPLD at 71–100 mm and pioneers at 51–70 mm were absent in small and very large gaps, respectively. Similarly, pioneers of height 0–20 cm in very large gaps were missing. Conclusively, species biodiversity differed significantly among gaps while regeneration dynamics differed significantly among gap sizes.

Ecological functioning of boreal forests has been impacted by forest management practices reshaping the structure of forest habitats and substantially defining the tree species composition. An ongoing adverse development could alter links of many ecological chains, from which we focused on the relationship between primary and secondary cavity nesting birds. Great spotted woodpecker (GSW) symbolizes a principal cavity excavator being affected by forest management in its choice of available nesting trees. Its cavities are further used for breeding of small passerines, which can favour a specific forest structure around their nests. To investigate which structure could be preferred, we have searched for breeding events in blue and great tit in 760 km2 area of managed boreal forests in southwest Finland in 2018–2020. Using species distribution modelling approach we have modelled the probability of breeding in blue and great tits based on high resolution forest parameter maps provided by Natural Resource Institute Finland. We have selected three uncorrelated variables – mean tree stand volume of Scots pine, spruce, and broad-leaved trees – and updated the layers by logging areas in respective years. The resulting raster map showed higher (50–70%) and low (0–20%) probability of predicted breeding for 25% and 29% of the forest area, respectively, though the probability estimates greatly varied especially of the preferred area. The low-breeding probability areas nicely overlapped with young and recent clearings, having much lower mean volume of spruce and Scots pine, but higher volume of broad-leaved trees than potentially preferred areas. Because GSW breeds overwhelmingly in aspen trees, including trees left in clearings, within the study area, it suggests that despite the presence of retention trees these significantly altered forest areas can be of lower importance regarding the breeding of some secondary cavity nesters.

Planktivorous auklets registered changes across two years of a marine heat wave (2015–2016). Colony attendance of crested auklets (Aethia cristatella) was reduced (35–50%) at Little Diomede I., AK in latter June 2016 compared to 2015. The pattern was similar for least auklets (A. pusilla). An anomalous marine distribution and anomalous consumption pattern were noted for crested auklets. A plot of δ¹⁵N/δ¹³C spanned three times the range in 2016 vs. 2015. Crested auklet RBC’s had lower δ¹³C values and higher δ¹⁵N in 2016. Least auklet growing primaries showed the same pattern. Advected production is important, but δ¹³C enrichment may have occurred later in 2016. Julian Date of sampling was more strongly correlated with δ¹³C of crested auklet RBCs in 2016 (r = 0.47, p < 0.001) than 2015 (r = 0.31, p = 0.01). Crested auklets had higher baseline corticosterone (t_0.05(2)27 = 2.56, p < 0.05) and higher variances in 2016. The crested auklet’s citrus-like odorant was less evident in 2016 and ceased earlier in the summer. Bill pigmentation was incomplete in 11% of crested auklets (n = 82) in 2016. Planktivorous auklets are proxies for the marine ecosystem. Increased marine heat content may have imposed additive costs that decreased productivity of some top predators.

For decades, local and traditional species have been neglected and replaced by industrial and improved species. Sweet chestnut ‘Castanea sativa MILL.’, found in a small area in northern Morocco, is no exception. Indeed, Moroccan ecotypes are neither classified nor characterized. This study aims to evaluate the local genetic resources of Castanea sativa MILL. via multivariate analysis of morphometric parameters of leaves. The study involved 6200 leaves from 31 villages in 3 regions; 10 trees/village and 20 leaves/tree were sampled. Then eight morphometric parameters were analyzed: lamina length (LL), lamina width (LW), petiole length (PL), distance from the base of the leaf to the widest point of the leaf (DBW), surface (S), perimeter (P), and ratios LL/LW and LL/DBW. Analysis of the descriptive statistics within and between ecotypes initially showed a large variation in the ten parameters studied. This finding was supported by analysis of variance (ANOVA) which revealed a very highly significant difference (p < 0.0001) for all parameters. Indeed, the analysis of agglomerative hierarchical clustering (AHC) made it possible to group the studied populations into 3 distinct groups based on the surface. Overall, the high level of variability in leaf morphometric parameters indicates that the region is an important center of genetic diversity which assessment is crucial for the implementation of conservation and enhancement strategies for this heritage.

The deforestation consequent of urban sprawl is one of the causes of decline of wild bee communities and the urban green areas (UGA) can be important refuges for bees. This study analyzed the influence of UGA conditions and their surroundings in bee guilds responses in a medium-sized Brazilian city (Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ). The bees were sampled for 12 months (2017–2018) in 12 UGAs; bee abundance and richness were evaluated in guilds considering: sociality (eusocial, intermediate and solitary), nesting (cavity and soil) and foraging (generalist and specialist). We used as explanatory variables conditions of UGAs—number of trees (NT), DBH, flower cover (FC), plant richness (PR), percentage of paving (PV)—and of their surroundings—paving (SPV) and number of buildings (NB). Results showed 80% of eussocial and generalist bees and 13% solitary; 82% nest in cavities and 20% were specialists. From all explanatory variables PV, NB, FC and SPV explained the responses of different guilds in study areas. This study confirms different responses by the guilds analysed. In order to conserve bee diversity, the management of UGAs must consider the abundance and richness of flowers, maintenance of exposed soil areas and the density of trees.

Humans transform landscapes and replace natural habitats with anthropogenic ones. Some species can adapt to these new environments, increasing their abundance and range of occurrence. To conserve the biodiversity and manage populations of organisms inhabiting cities, monitoring is required. Birds are among animals used as bioindicators of landscape and environment quality. As research on urban avifauna has become popular in the 1960s, birds are one of the best-studied urban organisms. Their communities are very dynamic and vary among different cities. The aim of our study was to evaluate changes in bird species diversity along urban gradient and time. The study was conducted in Krakow city, southern Poland, characterized by various habitats useful for many different bird species. We reviewed over 140,000 scientific records, including data from academic theses (about 750 observations), publications (100), and an official online database (139,700) from the period of 1974-2020. The land use was divided into 3 zones i.e., urban, suburban, and exurban. Bird species were classified into exploiters, adapters, and avoiders, based on the adaptive behavioural traits. Also, we distinguished 3 seasons in the year i.e., winter, breeding, and migration. The total number of species observed in Krakow was 246, including 117 adapters, 103 avoiders, and 26 exploiters. There were 150 species in the breeding season, including 122 nesting ones, 199 in the migration season, and 136 in the winter. The number of species was positively correlated with the number of observations and time. Over decades, the highest increase in species abundance was observed in the exurban area. The diversity of exploiters was constant in time but an abundance of adapters and avoiders has risen. Avoiders preferred exurban areas, however, adapters and exploiters showed no differences in choice of habitat. In addition to the basic patterns of bird occurrence in Krakow along urban gradient and time, the study showed the importance of citizen science (online databases). The future data evaluation is planned.

Morocco, with its Mediterranean climate and its various potentialities, conceals an important space for the extension of viticulture in particular that of traditional grape varieties, which has undergone profound upheavals linked to economic, social and environmental constraints, which have had a negative impact on genetic diversity. The present study aimed to evaluating the richness of the local phylogenetic heritage of the traditional vine in the North-West of Morocco. For this, we carried out a characterization of a collection of 1617 leaves, taken from 162 vine plants and belonging to 27 different traditional varieties. Thereafter, we use an ampelometric and ampelographic approach with the SUPER AMPELO software. The ANOVA test revealed the most discriminating parameters, that is the angles, the depth of the lateral sinuses in relation to the lengths of the ribs and the relationships between all the parameters. In this sense, the qualitative parameters (OIV Codes) confirmed the presence of morphological diversity within the grape varieties studied, the study of general averages made it possible to specify the varieties with the large values of distance/angles and of ratio and we have shown the presence of a great intra-varietal diversity in addition to that which is inter-varietal. The analysis in principal components allowed to grouping the grape varieties in 5 groups according to their expressions by the quantitative parameters and it confirmed the hypothesis of the influence of the external environment in addition to the gene pool on the grape varieties. This leads us to provide more efforts to maintain inter and intra-varietal variability and to fight against genetic erosion and the threat of changes environmental.

Studies from the past two decades indicate the important role of functional diversity and litter identity as a determining factor in decomposition. So far, researchers have search to understand the effects of litter diversity in opposite environmental contexts, in which the abiotic pathway prevails over the biotic pathway. We search to test the effects of the functional diversity of litter on decomposition in areas under vegetation (i.e., more favorable to biological decomposition), and in areas exposed to the sun (i. e., more favorable to photodegradation), prioritizing the litter functional diversity. We used an experimental approach in situ with litterbags in two different environmental contexts in a rainforest in RN, Brazil. We used four species with different specific leaf areas (SLA) and put in mono and bicultures, totaling 120 litterbags, placing 60 of them in the most exposed to the sun and the rest in the shaded environment. We observed that the decomposition rate in habitats with greater exposure to photodegradation was on average 34% higher than that observed in habitats with vegetation. There were also effects of diversity in some treatments, indicating the effect of functional identity, in which combinations of litter leaf with greater differences in SLA values ​​(i. e., discrepant bicultures) showed a slower decomposition in bicultures than in the corresponding monocultures. With the predictions of climate change, regions such as rainforest can become increasingly arid, so our work suggests that in these environments the high rate of photodegradation can accelerate the decomposition of the litter with high SLA, With the predictions of climate change, certain regions such as rainforest can become increasingly arid, so our work suggests that in these environments the high rate of photodegradation can accelerate the decomposition of the litter with high SLA, besides, to retard leaf litter decomposition of species with discrepant SLA's.