alkaline waste spoils [4]). Some argue that the increase in hard surfaces in cities represents a replication of many of the key features of natural habitat templates [7] found in unproductive rocky areas [5,8,9]. Urban habitats probably provide a continuum of selective novelty, from remnant natural habitats or anthropogenic analogs of other habitats to wholly novel environments. Such research c...

Despite the abundance of fossil remains for the extinct steppe bison (Bison priscus), an animal that was painted and engraved in numerous European Paleolithic caves, a complete mitochondrial genome sequence has never been obtained for this species. In the present study we collected bone samples from a sector of the Trois-Frères Paleolithic cave (Ariège, France) that formerly functioned as a pit...

Marine invasion ecology and management have progressed significantly over the last 30 years although many knowledge gaps and challenges remain. The kelp Undaria pinnatifida, or "Wakame," has a global non-native range and is considered one of the world's "worst" invasive species. Since its first recorded introduction in 1971, numerous studies have been conducted on its ecology, invasive characte...

Objective: Ecosystems with mixed species compared to the ones with pure compositions provide a broader range of options in the fields of biodiversity, conservation, protection and restoration. Nearly all forest plantations are established as monocultures, but research has shown that there are potential advantages to be gained by using carefully designed species mixtures in place of monocultures...

1. Research on habitat selection has focused on the role of vegetative and geologic characteristics or antagonistic behavioural interactions. 2. Conspecifics can confer information about habitat quality and provide positive density-dependent effects, suggesting habitat selection in response to the presence of conspecifics can be an adaptive strategy. 3. We conducted a manipulative field experim...

BACKGROUND The European bison (Bison bonasus) is an endangered species. More information on its anatomy is needed as only few studies have been published. This study is the first report on the morphology of the coronary vessels. Given the anatomical similarity between the European bison and other ruminants, the results of this study can be applied to other species, including endangered ones. ...

Mapping habitat selection by threatened species provides critical information for conservation planning. For reintroduced populations, understanding is also necessary to predict dispersal and inform of new reintroduction sites. Efforts restore bison Bison the boreal forest hinge on persistence geographically isolated populations that occupy diverse landscapes, many selected habitats are unknown...

A powerful approach to address the general factors contributing to ecological speciation is to compare distantly related taxa that inhabit the same selective environments. In this design, similarities among taxa can elucidate general mechanisms of the process whereas differences may uncover specific factors important to the process for individual taxa. Herein, we present evidence of parallel pa...

Macroecology and biogeography of microscopic organisms (any living organism smaller than 2 mm) are quickly developing into fruitful research areas. Microscopic organisms also offer the potential for testing predictions and models derived from observations on larger organisms due to the feasibility of performing lab and mesocosm experiments. However, more empirical knowledge on the similarities ...