Selected publications

The authors review how different bat guilds respond to artificial light at night (ALAN) and assess how the impacts vary according to ecological context. All studied European species respond for example negatively to a wide range of light colors and intensities close to roosts and drinking sites. The sprawl of ALAN may be a key factor driving the decline of bat diversity.

Explosive growth in “environmental DNA” studies has led to inconsistent use of the term “eDNA”. The confusion could jeopardize research, conservation, and management efforts. The authors argue that eDNA should be defined by its origin rather than by methods used to detect it, and that studies must clearly distinguish between eDNA from whole organisms and from trace amounts found in shed cells.

The authors quantified heterogeneity of rivers and methods and how many small decisions in studies bias outcomes. They identified most representative, replicable, and accurate river metabolism approaches, and suggest best practices to improve value of and confidence in big data aggregation and long term monitoring including: adjust for drift, measure from the thalweg, use local over remote data.

Benthic filamentous algal blooms in nutrient-poor, clear lakes are unusual but have increased recently – and the causes are often complex and largely unexplored. The authors have compiled possible reasons. They want to draw attention to the problem because benthic filamentous algae blooms can change the ecosystem profoundly and can contain toxic substances.

The authors have quantified the long-term temperature changes in 139 lakes worldwide. They analysed shifts in thermal habitats and found that as lakes warm, species will need to shift to different depths or seasons. Lakes in the tropics are particularly affected.

A research team has studied the close relationships between infectious diseases and biological invasions. The "One Health" approach considers the health of humans as well as animals, plants and other elements of the environment to prevent pandemics and the spread of invasive alien species.

Molecular survey methods detecting DNA released by target-species into their environment (eDNA) provide cost-effective tools for conservation, yet such eDNA-based methods are prone to errors. The authors synthesized recent advances in data processing tools that increase the reliability of interpretations drawn from eDNA data.

Invasion science is the systematic investigation of the causes and consequences of biological invasions. The authors identified four priority areas to advance the field in the Anthropocene: (1) predicting impacts of biological invasions, (2) understanding synergisms of multiple environmental stressors, (3) resolving the taxonomic impediment, and (4) enhancing international biosecurity.