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Item Open Access Unravelling large-scale patterns and drivers of biodiversity in dry rivers(Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2024) Foulquier A; Datry T; Corti R; von Schiller D; Tockner K; Stubbington R; Gessner MO; Boyer F; Ohlmann M; Thuiller W; Rioux D; Miquel C; Albariño R; Allen DC; Altermatt F; Arce MI; Arnon S; Banas D; Banegas-Medina A; Beller E; Blanchette ML; Blessing J; Boëchat IG; Boersma K; Bogan M; Bonada N; Bond N; Brintrup K; Bruder A; Burrows R; Cancellario T; Canhoto C; Carlson S; Cid N; Cornut J; Danger M; de Freitas Terra B; De Girolamo AM; del Campo R; Díaz Villanueva V; Dyer F; Elosegi A; Febria C; Figueroa Jara R; Four B; Gafny S; Gómez R; Gómez-Gener L; Guareschi S; Gücker B; Hwan J; Jones JI; Kubheka PS; Laini A; Langhans SD; Launay B; Le Goff G; Leigh C; Little C; Lorenz S; Marshall J; Martin Sanz EJ; McIntosh, Angus; Mendoza-Lera C; Meyer EI; Miliša M; Mlambo MC; Morais M; Moya N; Negus P; Niyogi D; Pagán I; Papatheodoulou A; Pappagallo G; Pardo I; Pařil P; Pauls SU; Polášek M; Rodríguez-Lozano P; Rolls RJ; Sánchez-Montoya MM; Savić A; Shumilova O; Sridhar KR; Steward A; Taleb A; Uzan A; Valladares Y; Vander Vorste R; Waltham NJ; Zak DH; Zoppini AMore than half of the world’s rivers dry up periodically, but our understanding of the biological communities in dry riverbeds remains limited. Specifically, the roles of dispersal, environmental filtering and biotic interactions in driving biodiversity in dry rivers are poorly understood. Here, we conduct a large-scale coordinated survey of patterns and drivers of biodiversity in dry riverbeds. We focus on eight major taxa, including microorganisms, invertebrates and plants: Algae, Archaea, Bacteria, Fungi, Protozoa, Arthropods, Nematodes and Streptophyta. We use environmental DNA metabarcoding to assess biodiversity in dry sediments collected over a 1-year period from 84 non-perennial rivers across 19 countries on four continents. Both direct factors, such as nutrient and carbon availability, and indirect factors such as climate influence the local biodiversity of most taxa. Limited resource availability and prolonged dry phases favor oligotrophic microbial taxa. Co-variation among taxa, particularly Bacteria, Fungi, Algae and Protozoa, explain more spatial variation in community composition than dispersal or environmental gradients. This finding suggests that biotic interactions or unmeasured ecological and evolutionary factors may strongly influence communities during dry phases, altering biodiversity responses to global changes.Item Open Access Antarctic Geothermal Soils Exhibit an Absence of Regional Habitat Generalist Microorganisms(Wiley, 2025) Noell SE; Abbaszadeh J; Richards H; Labat Saint Vincent M; Lee CK; Herbold, Craig; Stott, Matthew; Cary SC; McDonald IRActive geothermal systems are relatively rare in Antarctica and represent metaphorical islands ideal to study microbial dispersal. In this study, we tested the macro-ecological concept that high dispersal rates result in communities being dominated by either habitat generalists or specialists by investigating the microbial communities on four geographically separated geothermal sites on three Antarctic volcanoes (Mts. Erebus, Melbourne, and Rittman). We found that the microbial communities at higher temperature (max 65°C) sites (Tramway Ridge on Erebus and Rittmann) were unique from each other and were dominated by a variety of novel Archaea from class Nitrososphaeria, while lower temperature (max 50°C) sites (Western Crater on Erebus and Melbourne) had characteristically mesophilic communities (Planctomycetes, Acidobacteriota, etc.) that were highly similar. We found that 97% of the detected microbial taxa were regional habitat specialists, with no generalists, with community assembly driven by high dispersal rates and drift (25% and 30% of community assembly, respectively), not environmental selection. Our results indicate that for microbial communities experiencing high dispersal rates between isolated communities, habitat specialists may tend to out-compete habitat generalists.Item Open Access Managing Isolation: Implementing In‐Stream Barriers to Exclude Introduced Trout From Fragmented Native Freshwater Fish Refuges(Wiley, online-publication-date) Jolly ME; Warburton, Helen; Bowie S; McIntosh, AngusFish invasions are a key driver of change in freshwater systems, impacting biodiversity and economies. The use of in‐stream barriers to prevent or mitigate such invasions and protect native fish populations, known as isolation management (IM), has been increasingly reported. However, despite the need to secure vulnerable populations, trade‐offs between isolation and invasion are likely, and it is unclear if current knowledge supports optimal long‐term outcomes. Aotearoa New Zealand has a history of using exclusion barriers to prevent incursions of introduced sports fish into native river‐resident galaxiid (RRG) refuges predominantly within the South Island. We assessed 37 structures and predicted successful exclusion would be due to a combination of barrier parameters and habitat. Additionally, we assessed global exclusion knowledge, conducting a systematic review and meta‐analysis of peer‐reviewed studies of trout barriers to examine the prevalence of quantitative barrier parameters in the literature. We found that drop height had the strongest relationship with exclusion in both field survey and meta‐analysis, and downstream pool depth was also negatively correlated with exclusion in the field data. Less than a third (27%) of trout barrier studies identified by systematic review reported quantitative barrier parameters, and barrier height was the only parameter found to have a relationship with exclusion. Only six (11%) of the quantitative studies described deliberate exclusion of fish for ecological gain. Trout barriers had successful outcomes in New Zealand, with galaxiid densities higher above successful barriers than any other position; therefore, there is evidence supporting barrier use in conservation.Item Open Access Air Temperature Trends and Extreme Warming Events Across Regions of Antarctica for the Period 2003–2021(American Geophysical Union (AGU), 2025) Nielsen EB; Katurji, Marwan; Zawar‐Reza P; Cullen NWe have characterized the magnitude and spatial extent of observed regional and inter‐regional air temperature trends and warming extremes across Antarctica. Prior studies have used localized observational records to analyze air temperature trends across distinct geographical regions, leaving local and inter‐regional variations to be undetected. Using the high‐resolution temperature product AntAir ICE, air temperature trends and extreme warming events were identified across Antarctica for the period 2003–2021. Unsupervised clustering was applied to austral summer and annual mean air temperature trends to divide Antarctica into 12 regions exhibiting similarity in temperature trends. Our results show a significant annual mean cooling trend of ‒ for the terrestrial Antarctic Peninsula, and an austral summer (annual) warming trend of + (+) in the Ross Sea region's Victoria Land and Transantarctic Mountains. The spatial extent of each of the 12 clusters' extreme air temperature events was mapped in austral summer revealing that West Antarctica has spatially confined events, while East Antarctica events are widespread. ERA5 data indicate that West Antarctica's extreme air temperature events are associated with consistent meridional atmospheric flows. Local to regional extreme warming events in East Antarctica are associated with inland high‐pressure systems, which enhance katabatic winds. Localized warming events around complex coastal geographies appear to be related to mesoscale wind systems such as foehn but require further investigation using mesoscale numerical weather models. This work highlights the necessity for ongoing and new monitoring in regions where critical ecological and physical thresholds are being surpassed.Item Open Access Environmental stewardship: A systematic scoping review(Public Library of Science (PLoS), 2024) McLeod , Lynette J.; Kitson , Jane C.; Dorner , Zack; Tassell-Matamua , Natasha A.; Stahlmann-Brown , Philip; Milfont , Taciano L.; Hine, Donald; Belgrano AEnvironmental stewardship is a term describing both the philosophy and the actions required to protect, restore, and sustainably use natural resources for the future benefit of the environment and society. In this paper, we review the environmental science literature to map the types of practical actions that are identified as ‘environmental stewardship’ using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines for scoping reviews. We specifically mapped: 1) the type of actions and outcomes targeting the natural environment that have been categorized as environmental stewardship, 2) the main actors, and the underlying factors influencing their environmental stewardship actions, and 3) the methods used to mobilize environmental stewardship actions once these factors are known. From the 77 selected articles, we found the term environmental stewardship encompassed a multitude of different actions, undertaken by a range of actors and addressing an array of issues that impact biodiversity on the land and in the water. These stewardship actions were conducted on both privately-owned and publicly managed lands and waterways, and across rural and urban landscapes. Despite many studies identifying characteristics and underlying behavioral factors that predicted actors’ participation in stewardship actions, there were few studies formally evaluating interventions to increase stewardship. Our review highlighted the term environmental stewardship is not embraced by all and is viewed by some as being inconsistent with aspects of indigenous worldviews. A better understanding of the concept of environmental stewardship and continued practical research into its practice is fundamental to empowering people to demand and enact environmental stewardship as well as for evaluating the success of their actions.Item Open Access Draft Genome Sequence of Venenivibrio stagnispumantis CP.B2T, Isolated from Champagne Pool, Waiotapu, Aotearoa-New Zealand(American Society for Microbiology, 2023) Power, Jean F.; Welford , Holly E.; Carere, Carlo; McDonald , Ian R.; Craig , S. Craig; Stott, Matthew; Cameron Thrash JVenenivibrio stagnispumantis strain CP.B2T is a thermophilic, chemolithoautotrophic bacterium from the family Hydrogenothermaceae (phylum Aquificota), isolated from Champagne Pool in the Waiotapu geothermal field, Aotearoa-New Zealand. The genome consists of 1.73 Mbp in 451 contigs with a 30.8 mol% G1C content.Item Open Access Substrate and nutrient manipulation during continuous cultivation of extremophilic algae, Galdieria spp. RTK 37.1, substantially impacts biomass productivity and composition(Wiley, 2024) Buckeridge , Emma; Caballero , Carlos C.; Smith , Daniel H.; Stott, Matthew; Carere, CarloThe extremophilic nature and metabolic flexibility of Galdieria spp. highlights their potential for biotechnological application. However, limited research into continuous cultivation of Galdieria spp. has slowed progress towards the commercialization of these algae. The objective of this research was to investigate biomass productivity and growth yields during continuous photoautotrophic, mixotrophic and heterotrophic cultivation of Galdieria sp. RTK371; a strain recently isolated from within the Taupō Volcanic Zone in Aotearoa-New Zealand. Results indicate Galdieria sp. RTK371 grows optimally at pH 2.5 under warm white LED illumination. Photosynthetic O2 production was dependent on lighting intensity with a maximal value of (133.5 ± 12.1 nmol O2 mgbiomass−1 h−1) achieved under 100 μmol m−2 s−1 illumination. O2 production rates slowed significantly to 42 ± 1 and <0.01 nmol O2 mgbiomass−1 h−1 during mixotrophic and heterotrophic growth regimes respectively. Stable, long-term chemostat growth of Galdieria sp. RTK371 was achieved during photoautotrophic, mixotrophic and heterotrophic growth regimes. During periods of ammonium limitation, Galdieria sp. RTK371 increased its intracellular carbohydrate content (up to 37% w/w). In contrast, biomass grown in ammonium excess was composed of up to 65% protein (w/w). Results from this study demonstrate that the growth of Galdieria sp. RTK371 can be manipulated during continuous cultivation to obtain desired biomass and product yields over long cultivation periods.Item Open Access Lesions to the mediodorsal thalamus, but not orbitofrontal cortex, enhance volatility beliefs linked to paranoia(Elsevier BV, 2024) Suthaharan , Praveen; Thompson , Summer L.; Rossi-Goldthorpe , Rosa A.; Rudebeck , Peter H.; Walton , Mark E.; Chakraborty , Subhojit; Noonan , Maryann; Costa , Vincent D.; Murray , Elisabeth A.; Mathys , Christoph D.; Groman , Stephanie M.; Mitchell , Anna S.; Taylor , Jane R.; Corlett , Philip R.; Chang , Steve W. C.Beliefs—attitudes toward some state of the environment—guide action selection and should be robust to variability but sensitive to meaningful change. Beliefs about volatility (expectation of change) are associated with paranoia in humans, but the brain regions responsible for volatility beliefs remain unknown. The orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) is central to adaptive behavior, whereas the magnocellular mediodorsal thalamus (MDmc) is essential for arbitrating between perceptions and action policies. We assessed belief updating in a three-choice probabilistic reversal learning task following excitotoxic lesions of the MDmc (n = 3) or OFC (n = 3) and compared performance with that of unoperated monkeys (n = 14). Computational analyses indicated a double dissociation: MDmc, but not OFC, lesions were associated with erratic switching behavior and heightened volatility belief (as in paranoia in humans), whereas OFC, but not MDmc, lesions were associated with increased lose-stay behavior and reward learning rates. Given the consilience across species and models, these results have implications for understanding paranoia.Item Open Access Addressing climate change with behavioral science: A global intervention tournament in 63 countries(American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), 2024) Vlasceanu , Madalina; Doell , Kimberly C.; Bak-Coleman , Joseph B.; Todorova , Boryana; Berkebile-Weinberg , Michael M.; Grayson , Samantha J.; Patel , Yash; Goldwert , Daniel; Pei Y, Yifei; Chakroff , Alek; Pronizius , Ekaterina; van den Broek , Karlijn L.; Vlasceanu , Denisa; Constantino , Sara; Morais , Michael J.; Schumann , Phillipp; Rathje , Steve; Fang , Ke; Aglioti , Salvatore Maria; Alfano , Mark; Alvarado-Yepez , Andy J.; Andersen , Angélica; Anseel , Frederik; Apps , Matthew A. J.; Asadli , Chillar; Awuor , Fonda Jane; Azevedo , Flavio; Basaglia , Piero; Bélanger , Jocelyn J.; Berger , Sebastian; Bertin , Paul; Białek M, Michał; Bialobrzeska , Olga; Blaya-Burgo , Michelle; Bleize , Daniëlle N. M.; Bø , Simen; Boecker , Lea; Boggio , Paulo S.; Borau , Sylvie; Bos , Björn; Bouguettaya , Ayoub; Brauer , Markus; Brick , Cameron; Brik , Tymofii; Briker , Roman; Brosch , Tobias; Buchel , Ondrej; Buonauro , Daniel; Butalia , Radhika; Carvacho , Héctor; Chamberlain , Sarah A. E.; Chan , Hang-Yee; Chow , Dawn; Chung , Dongil; Cian , Luca; Cohen-Eick , Noa; Contreras-Huerta , Luis Sebastian; Contu , Davide; Cristea , Vladimir; Cutler , Jo; D'Ottone , Silvana; De Keersmaecker , Jonas; Delcourt , Sarah; Delouvée , Sylvain; Diel , Kathi; Douglas , Benjamin D.; Drupp , Moritz; Dubey , Shreya; Ekmanis , Jānis; Elbaek , Christian T.; Elsherif , Mahmoud; Engelhard , Iris M.; Escher , Yannik A.; Etienne , Tom W.; Farage , Laura; Farias , Ana Rita; Feuerriegel , Stefan; Findor , Andrej; Freira , Lucia; Friese , Malte; Gains , Neil Philip; Gallyamova , Albina; Geiger , Sandra J.; Genschow , Oliver; Gjoneska , Biljana; Gkinopoulos , Theofilos; Goldberg , Beth; Goldenberg , Amit; Gradidge , Sarah; Grassini , Simone; Gray , Kurt; Grelle , Sonja; Griffin , Siobhán M.; Grigoryan , Lusine; Grigoryan , Ani; Grigoryev , Dmitry; Gruber , June; Guilaran , Johnrev; Hadar , Britt; Hahnel , Ulf J. J.Effectively reducing climate change requires marked, global behavior change. However, it is unclear which strategies are most likely to motivate people to change their climate beliefs and behaviors. Here, we tested 11 expert-crowdsourced interventions on four climate mitigation outcomes: beliefs, policy support, information sharing intention, and an effortful tree-planting behavioral task. Across 59,440 participants from 63 countries, the interventions’ effectiveness was small, largely limited to nonclimate skeptics, and differed across outcomes: Beliefs were strengthened mostly by decreasing psychological distance (by 2.3%), policy support by writing a letter to a future-generation member (2.6%), information sharing by negative emotion induction (12.1%), and no intervention increased the more effortful behavior—several interventions even reduced tree planting. Last, the effects of each intervention differed depending on people’s initial climate beliefs. These findings suggest that the impact of behavioral climate interventions varies across audiences and target behaviors.Item Open Access Evaluating intra- and inter-life stage density-dependent dynamics for management of perennial amphidromous fish(Wiley, 2024) Crichton , Ben R. J.; Hickford , Michael J. H.; McIntosh, Angus; Schiel , David R.Compensatory density-dependent (DD) processes play an integral role in fisheries management by underpinning fundamental population demographics. However, DD processes are often assessed only for specific life stages, likely resulting in misleading evaluations of population limitations. Here, we assessed the relative roles of intra- and inter-life stage DD interactions in shaping the population dynamics of perennial freshwater fish with demographically open populations. Specifically, we monitored populations of amphidromous banded kōkopu (Galaxias fasciatus), giant kōkopu (Galaxias argenteus), and shortjaw kōkopu (Galaxias postvectis) in five streams where migratory post-larvae are fished and in three no-take (“closed”) streams located on New Zealand's South Island for two years. Using mark-recapture data, we investigated whether fishing altered densities of “small” (non-territorial recruits ≤1-year-old) and “large” (territorial fish >1-year-old) kōkopu size classes, and how subsequent density shifts affected the apparent survival and growth of each class while controlling for other confounding factors (e.g., habitat characteristics). We found that closed areas had substantially greater biomass of small kōkopu, particularly following the two-month fishing season. Despite this greater influx of recruits, there was no difference in the biomass of large kōkopu at the species level, or as a combined assemblage between stream types. This indicated that although fishing of post-larvae reduced recruit influxes into adult habitats, there was no subsequent evidence of recruitment-limitation within adult populations. Instead, kōkopu demographics were underpinned by intra- and inter-life stage DD competition and predation. Greater large fish densities played a key role in regulating the survival, growth, and/or presence of various kōkopu classes. In contrast, greater small fish densities had positive effects on the growth of opportunistic and insectivorous congeners, likely due to cannibalism and altered foraging behaviors, respectively. Our study details the prominent role of intra- and inter-life stage DD interactions in regulating the population dynamics of perennial migratory freshwater fishes, even in populations with inhibited recruit and juvenile availability. We emphasize the importance for fisheries management to implement recruitment dependencies and complex interactions between distinct life stages to avoid deleterious DD responses and ensure population persistence.Item Open Access Phase Precession Relative to Turning Angle in Theta‐Modulated Head Direction Cells(Wiley, 2025) Ji , Zilong; Lomi , Eleonora; Jeffery , Kate; Mitchell, Anna S; Burgess , NeilABSTRACTGrid and place cells typically fire at progressively earlier phases within each cycle of the theta rhythm as rodents run across their firing fields, a phenomenon known as theta phase precession. Here, we report theta phase precession relative to turning angle in theta‐modulated head direction cells within the anteroventral thalamic nucleus (AVN). As rodents turn their heads, these cells fire at progressively earlier phases as head direction sweeps over their preferred tuning direction. The degree of phase precession increases with angular head velocity. Moreover, phase precession is more pronounced in those theta‐modulated head direction cells that exhibit theta skipping, with a stronger theta‐skipping effect correlating with a higher degree of phase precession. These findings are consistent with a ring attractor model that integrates external theta input with internal firing rate adaptation—a phenomenon we identified in head direction cells within AVN. Our results broaden the range of information known to be subject to neural phase coding and enrich our understanding of the neural dynamics supporting spatial orientation and navigation.Item Open Access Flow matters: Unravelling the interactive influences of flow alterations and non-native trout on vulnerable galaxiids(2024) Hore , Olivia R.; Tonkin, Jonathan; Boddy , Nixie C.; McIntosh, AngusUnderstanding the interactive effects of non-native species and alterations to flow regimes is important to combat threats to freshwater communities. Low-flow conditions may either exacerbate or offset influences of non-natives but the mechanisms determining the direction are poorly understood. We evaluated how stream drying affected interactions between vulnerable native stream-resident galaxiids and non-native trout in Aotearoa, New Zealand. We electrofished (December–March) paired perennial and drying reaches containing galaxiids (Galaxias vulgaris and G. paucispondylus) to compare abundance and growth rates in streams with high abundance (n=2), low abundance (n=2) or no brown trout (n=3; Salmo trutta). Low flows greatly reduced trout abundance and size, likely reducing predatory threats to galaxiids since risk is size-related. Galaxiid densities were consistently lower in drying compared to perennial reaches of troutless streams. However, galaxiids were less affected by low flows than trout, setting the scene for an interaction between trout and low flow. In streams with high numbers of trout, galaxiid numbers were very low in perennial reaches, whereas they were moderate in drying reaches. That meant galaxiid numbers in creased with a decreasing flow in streams with many trout, an indirect positive effect, although their abundance never reached the high levels of trout-free perennial reaches. In low-density trout streams, there were no clear differences in galaxiid abundance between reaches of different flow types. Thus, the effects of trout on galaxiids depended on the flow regime, likely driven by harsh low-flow conditions suppressing large trout, which were more sensitive to low flow than galaxiids. Galaxiid growth rates actually increased with conspecific densities in trout streams, whereas growth rates decreased with increasing galaxiid densities in troutless streams. Thus, growth advantages for galaxiids in the presence of trout possibly helped drive these low-flow effects on their populations in trout streams, potentially via an attractive sink-type mechanism. Overall, although low-flow conditions likely reduced predatory effects of non-natives and may have indirectly bolstered growth rates of natives, populations of natives were also suppressed by low flow. Such interactive effects of flow reduction are likely common and appear controlled by relative vulnerability and size-structured interactions and will be key to balancing the maintenance of natural flows with minimising effects of non-native sports fish. Flow depletion might create some refuge for native fishes in the presence of a non-native, but net effects could still be worse than no flow depletion as we observed. Thus, it will be important to ascertain how flow-depleted reaches affect the long-term persistence of native fish populations before relaying on flow reduction to suppress non-natives.Item Open Access Correction to: The Kelp Forest Challenge: A collaborative global movement to protect and restore 4 million hectares of kelp forests (Journal of Applied Phycology, (2024), 36, 2, (951-964), 10.1007/s10811-023-03103-y)(Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2024) Eger , Aaron; Aguirre , J. David; Altamirano , Maria; Arafeh‑Dalmau , Nur; Arroyo , Nina Larissa; Bauer‑Civiello , Anne M; Beas‑Luna , Roderigo; Bekkby , Trine; Bellgrove , Alecia; Bennett , Scott; Bernal , Blanca; Blain , Caitlin O.; Boada , Jordi; Branigan , Simon; Bursic , Jasmine; Cevallos , Bruno; Choi , ChangGeun; Connell , Sean D.; Cornwall , Christopher Edward; Earp , Hannah Scarlett; Eddy , Norah; Ennis , Lee-Ann; Falace , Annalisa; Ferreira , Ana Margarida; Filbee‑Dexter , Karen; Forbes , Hunter; Francis , Prue; Franco , Joao; Geisler , Karen Gray; Giraldo‑Ospina , Anita; Gonzalez , Alejandra V.; Hingorani , Swati; Hohman , Rietta; Iveša , Ljiljana; Kaleb , Sara; Keane , John P.; Koch , Sophie J. I.; Krumhansl , Kira; Ladah , Lydia; Lafont , Dallas J.; Layton , Cayne; Le , Duong Minh; Lee , Lynn Chi; Ling , Scott D.; Lonhart , Steve I.; Malpica‑Cruz , Luis; Mangialajo , Luisa; McConnell , Amy; McHugh , Tristin Anoush; Micheli , Fiorenza; Miller , Kelsey Irene; Monserrat , Margalida; Montes‑Herrera , Juan; Moreno , Bernabé; Neufeld , Christopher J.; Orchard, Shane; Peabody , Betsy; Peleg , Ohad; Pessarrodona , Albert; Pocklington , Jacqueline B.; Reeves , Simon E.; Ricart , Aurora M.; Ross , Finnley; Schanz , Federica Romina; Schreider , Maria; Sedarat , Mohammad; Smith , Shannen M.; Starko , Samuel; Strain , Elisabeth M. A.; Tamburello , Laura; Timmer , Brian; Toft , Jodie E.; Uribe , Roberto A.; van den Burg , Sander W. K.; Vásquez , Julio A.; Veenhof , Reina J.; Wernberg , Thomas; Wood , Georgina; Zepeda‑Dominguez , José Alberto; Vergès , AdrianaIn this article the author name Aaron Eger was written twice, Alecia was missing, and Christopher Edward Cornwall should be Christopher Edward. The original article has been corrected.Item Open Access Multidecadal estimation of hydrological contribution and glacier mass balance in the semi-arid Andes based on physically based modeling and geodetic mass balance(Frontiers Media SA, 2025) Mejías , Alonso; McPhee , James; Mahmoud , Hazem; Farías-Barahona , David; Kinnard , Christophe; MacDonell, Shelley; Montserrat , Santiago; Somos-Valenzuela , Marcelo; Fernandez , AlfonsoGlaciers are of paramount importance in diverse environments, and due to the accelerated retreat experienced in recent decades, efforts have intensified to achieve a comprehensive understanding of key variables such as mass balance and glacial melting. However, the scarcity of data in regions that are difficult to access, such as the Andes Cordillera, hinders reliable glaciological studies of the historical period. This study examined the mass balance and melting dynamics of the Universidad Glacier, the largest in the semi-arid Andes, from 1955 to 2020, using the physically based Cold Regions Hydrological Model (CRHM). The model was calibrated with geodetic mass balance estimates available between 1955 and 2020 and evaluated against on-site observations available between 2012 and 2014. Change point analysis revealed three contrasting periods of mass balance evolution: significant mass loss for the periods 1955–1971 and 2006–2020 and near-equilibrium mass balance from 1971 to 2006. These loss and gain periods align with the negative phases of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) and the positive ENSO (El Niño) events, respectively. Simulated runoff from glacier melt showed a positive trend of 8% per decade since 1971. Calibrated and uncalibrated versions of the model showed similar temporal variability, but cumulative mass balance differed significantly. The model calibrated from 1955 to 2020 had a minimal overestimation of 0.1% in mass loss and slightly improved the representation of the annual albedo. Relative to this best-performing model, the model calibrated with geodetic mass balance estimates from 2000 to 2020 overestimated mass loss by 25%, whereas the uncalibrated model overestimated mass balance by 62%. Physically based modeling with parameters adjusted based on field observations is adequate to reproduce the most salient features of MB interannual variability. However, long-term projections may diverge significantly, and albedo parameterizations, including its spatial and temporal evolution throughout a glacier surface, are an avenue for future research.Item Open Access Influence of hydrogen sulfide on gas-water interface in underground hydrogen storage: A molecular dynamics study(Elsevier BV, 2024) Chang , Qiuhao; Huang , Liangliang; McKenzie , Kelsey; Carere, Carlo; Stott, Matthew; Nicol, Andrew; Dempsey, DavidIn this study, we investigate the dynamics of interfacial tension (IFT) between residual pore water and gas mixtures containing H2, CH4, and H2S within subsurface porous media, essential for underground hydrogen storage (UHS) systems. Utilizing molecular dynamics simulations, we established specific IFT correlations across a spectrum of H2S concentrations, ranging from 5 % to 80 %, under the conditions of 14.5 MPa and 343 K. Our results demonstrate a marked decrease in IFT, with a notable 12 % reduction observed even at a minimal H2S concentration of 5 % for H2S-H2 mixtures, contrasting with a 6 % reduction in H2S-CH4 mixtures, and reaching a saturation point at concentrations exceeding 80 %. The presence of CH4 at the interface mitigates the reduction in IFT caused by H2S, underscoring the complexity of gas interactions in subsurface storage. These insights into the molecular dynamics at the gas-water interface carry significant implications for the optimization of UHS operations, informed by the substantial variations in IFT with different H2S concentrations.Item Open Access Impact Assessment Frameworks for Nature-Based Climate Solutions: A Review of Contemporary Approaches(2025) Orchard, Shane; Fitzpatrick , Ben M.; Shah , Mohammad A. R.; Andrade , AngelaThis study provides a comparative analysis of ecological impact assessment (EcIA) guidance for the design and approval stages of carbon sequestration and emission reduction projects, which are rapidly proliferating in response to the global need for climate change mitigation. Previous reports of negative effects on biodiversity from such projects suggest a need for more robust project design and assessment processes to improve synergies with conservation. Using a content and thematic analysis methodology, we compared four published frameworks that guide the assessment of carbon projects in natural environments. The results showed considerable variation in environmental assessment components including the level of attention to ecosystem services and the identification of areas of high conservation value that may require specific protections. There was a general lack of guidance on the inclusion of indirect and supply chain effects despite their relevance to ecological impacts. Critically, guidance in common use in the climate mitigation sector shows differing applications of the baseline and counterfactual scenarios that are used to quantify impacts. We discuss the need to focus assessment and reporting on comparisons with recent baselines to identify the contributions of individual projects and enable adaptive management and show how aligning with the concepts of Nature-based Solutions and nature-positive could be used to reimagine the role of EcIA to achieve these objectives. If these current weaknesses can be improved, EcIA has the potential to become an important implementation pathway for the conservation–climate change nexus due to its pivotal role in project design and approval processes. Conversely, a failure to reliably address these aspects will undermine the utility of EcIA as a decision support tool for sustainable development. We encourage the further exploration of EcIA practices in this direction and highlight the pressing need for reliable comparisons to support more strategic and sustainable solutions for both the conservation and climate change agendas.Item Open Access The effects of communicating uncertainty around statistics, on public trust(The Royal Society, 2023) Kerr , John; Van Der Bles , Anne-Marthe; Dryhurst , Sarah; Schneider, Claudia R; Chopurian , Vivien; Freeman , Alexandra; Van Der Linden , SanderUncertainty around statistics is inevitable. However, communicators of uncertain statistics, particularly in high-stakes and potentially political circumstances, may be concerned that presenting uncertainties could undermine the perceived trustworthiness of the information or its source. In a large survey experiment (Study 1; N = 10 519), we report that communicating uncertainty around present COVID-19 statistics in the form of a numeric range (versus no uncertainty) may lead to slightly lower perceived trustworthiness of the number presented but has no impact on perceived trustworthiness of the source of the information. We also show that this minimal impact of numeric uncertainty on trustworthiness is also present when communicating future, projected COVID-19 statistics (Study 2; N = 2,309). Conversely, we find statements about the mere existence of uncertainty, without quantification, can reduce both perceived trustworthiness of the numbers and of their source. Our findings add to others suggesting that communicators can be transparent about statistical uncertainty without undermining their credibility as a source but should endeavour to provide a quantification, such as a numeric range, where possible.Item Open Access Prediction of road blockages caused by rainfall-induced landslides(Informa UK Limited, 2025) Lin , AF; Zorn , C; Wotherspoon , L; Robinson, TR; Pelmard , JThis paper develops and evaluates an approach to predict road blockages caused by rainfall induced landslides, using an indicator for landslide triggering (landslide probability, rainfall) and modelling landslide runout via the viewshed (area visible from the road). Based on the landslide inventory of 2023 ex-tropical Cyclone Gabrielle, the study investigates the prediction potential of this approach, focussing on the influence of different digital elevation model (DEM) resolutions. Findings suggest that coarser DEMs (20 or 25 m) slightly outperform finer resolutions (5 or 10 m), likely due to the other input variables presenting similar resolutions. While the viewshed approach effectively identifies larger road blockages, it fails to predict smaller blockages. Results also indicate a tendency to overestimate the extent of blockages, which can be addressed by evaluating landslide hazards at a road link scale (e.g. between intersections) rather than individual 100 m-segments. Uncertainties arise from using precipitation as a triggering variable as the precise time of landslide initiation is unknown, preventing the accurate calculation of the accumulated rainfall. Despite limitations and the need for further research, the viewshed approach presents a valuable tool for the prediction of road blockages during future rainfall events, providing critical information for emergency planning and mitigation efforts.Item Open Access Evidence Communication Rules for Policy (ECR-P) critical appraisal tool(Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2025) Danopoulos , E; Aston , JAD; Shah , A; Schneider, Claudia RBackground: Scientific papers increasingly put forward scientific-based policy recommendations (SPRs) as a means of closing the circle of science, policy and practice. Assessing the quality of such SPRs is crucial, especially within the context of a systematic review. Here, we present ECR-P (Evidence Communication Rules for Policy)—a critical appraisal tool that we have developed, which can be used in assessing not only the quality of SPRs but also the quality of their evidence base and how effectively these have both been communicated. Methods: The rationale behind ECR-P centres on three dimensions of quality; two are the well-established concepts of internal and external validity. Here, we introduce a third—evidence communication—encompassing both evidence veracity and quality of communication. Elements of the three dimensions of quality are considered within the context of the five rules of evidence communication. These are as follows: inform, not persuade; offer balance, not false balance; disclose uncertainties; state evidence quality and pre-empt misunderstandings. Results: Development of ECR-P has been carried out by an interdisciplinary team and was piloted with a systematic review reported more fully elsewhere. ECR-P comprises a set of preliminary considerations which capture key aspects for the assessment, leading on to the main tool whose structure is domain-based, each domain mapping to one of the five rules of evidence communication. The domains include 25 signalling questions designed to obtain essential information for the critical appraisal. The questions focus on either the study’s evidence or the policy recommendations. Domain-based judgement is derived from responses to the signalling questions and an accompanying algorithm, followed by an overall quality judgement. Conclusions: ECR-P has been designed to provide a standardised and transparent approach to assess the quality and communication of SPRs and their evidence base. The tool, which could be applied across all scientific fields, has been developed to fit primarily with the systematic reviewing process but could also serve as a stand-alone tool. Besides review assessors, it can also be used by policymakers, researchers, peer reviewers, editors and any other stakeholders interested in evidence-based policymaking and high-quality evidence communication. We encourage further independent testing of the tool in real-world evidence-based research.Item Open Access The International Climate Psychology Collaboration: Climate change-related data collected from 63 countries(Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2024) Doell , KC; Todorova, B; Vlasceanu , M; Bak Coleman , JB; Pronizius , E; Schumann , P; Azevedo , F; Patel, Y; Berkebile-Wineberg, MM; Brick, C; Lange, F; Grayson , SJ; Pei , Y; Chakroff , A; van den Broek , KL; Lamm , C; Vlasceanu , D; Constantino , SM; Rathje , S; Goldwert , D; Fang , K; Aglioti , SM; Alfano , M; Alvarado-Yepez , AJ; Andersen , A; Anseel , F; Apps , MAJ; Asadli , C; Awuor , FJ; Basaglia , P; Bélanger , JJ; Berger , S; Bertin , P; Białek , M; Bialobrzeska, O; Blaya-Burgo , M; Bleize , DNM; Bø , S; Boecker , L; Boggio , PS; Borau , S; Bos , B; Bouguettaya , A; Brauer , M; Brik , T; Briker , R; Brosch , T; Buchel , O; Buonauro , D; Butalia , R; Carvacho , H; Chamberlain , SAE; Chan , HY; Chow , D; Chung, D; Cian , L; Cohen-Eick, N; Contreras-Huerta , LS; Contu , D; Cristea , V; Cutler , J; D’Ottone , S; De keersmaecker , J; Delcourt , S; Delouvée , S; Diel , K; Douglas, BD; Drupp, MA; Dubey , S; Ekmanis , J; Elbaek, CT; Elsherif, M; Engelhard, IM; Escher, YA; Etienne, TW; Farage, L; Farias, AR; Feuerriegel, S; Findor, A; Freira, L; Friese, M; Gains, NP; Gallyamova, A; Geiger, SJ; Genschow, O; Gjoneska, B; Gkinopoulos, T; Goldberg, B; Goldenberg, A; Gradidge, S; Grassini, S; Gray, K; Grelle, S; Griffin, SM; Grigoryan, L; Grigoryan, A; Grigoryev, D; Gruber, J; Guilaran, JClimate change is currently one of humanity’s greatest threats. To help scholars understand the psychology of climate change, we conducted an online quasi-experimental survey on 59,508 participants from 63 countries (collected between July 2022 and July 2023). In a between-subjects design, we tested 11 interventions designed to promote climate change mitigation across four outcomes: climate change belief, support for climate policies, willingness to share information on social media, and performance on an effortful pro-environmental behavioural task. Participants also reported their demographic information (e.g., age, gender) and several other independent variables (e.g., political orientation, perceptions about the scientific consensus). In the no-intervention control group, we also measured important additional variables, such as environmentalist identity and trust in climate science. We report the collaboration procedure, study design, raw and cleaned data, all survey materials, relevant analysis scripts, and data visualisations. This dataset can be used to further the understanding of psychological, demographic, and national-level factors related to individual-level climate action and how these differ across countries.