Articles

Effectiveness of ecotechnologies in agriculture for the recovery and reuse of carbon and nutrients in the Baltic and boreo-temperate regions: a systematic map

Agriculture is the main sector responsible for nutrient emissions in the Baltic Sea Region and there is a growing pressure to identify cost-effective solutions towards reducing nitrogen and phosphorus loads or...

Authors: Biljana Macura, Mikołaj Piniewski, Marta Księżniak, Paweł Osuch, Neal R. Haddaway, Filippa Ek, Karolin Andersson and Sirkka Tattari

What are the impacts of within-field farmland management practices on the flux of greenhouse gases from arable cropland in temperate regions? A systematic map protocol

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is a vital step in limiting climate change and meeting the goals outlined in the COP 21 Paris Agreement of 2015. Studies have suggested that agriculture accounts for around 11...

Authors: Alexandra M. Collins, Neal R. Haddaway, Biljana Macura, James Thomas, Nicola Randall, Jessica J. Taylor, Steve Cooke and Alyssa Gilbert

How are nature based solutions contributing to priority societal challenges surrounding human well-being in the United Kingdom: a systematic map protocol

The concept of Nature-based Solutions (NBS) has evolved as an umbrella concept embracing concepts such as Green/Blue/Nature Infrastructure, Ecosystem Approach, Ecosystem Services, but at their core, they clust...

Authors: Jan Dick, James D. Miller, Jonathan Carruthers-Jones, Anne J. Dobel, Steve Carver, Angus Garbutt, Alison Hester, Rosie Hails, Victoria Magreehan and Melina Quinn

Bridging Indigenous and science-based knowledge in coastal and marine research, monitoring, and management in Canada

Drawing upon multiple types of knowledge (e.g., Indigenous knowledge, local knowledge, science-based knowledge) strengthens the evidence-base for policy advice, decision making, and environmental management. W...

Authors: Steven M. Alexander, Jennifer F. Provencher, Dominique A. Henri, Jessica J. Taylor, Jed Immanuel Lloren, Lushani Nanayakkara, Jay T. Johnson and Steven J. Cooke

Correction to: What are the effective solutions to control the dissemination of antibiotic resistance in the environment? A systematic review protocol

Following publication of the original article [1], the authors reported that wrong website were hyperlinked in the “Methods” section of the paper. The article has been updated and the links have been removed.

Authors: Anaïs Goulas, Barbara Livoreil, Nathalie Grall, Pierre Benoit, Céline Couderc-Obert, Christophe Dagot, Dominique Patureau, Fabienne Petit, Cédric Laouénan and Antoine Andremont

What is the nature and extent of evidence on methodologies for monitoring and evaluating marine spatial management measures in UK and similar coastal waters? A systematic map protocol

Anthropogenic degradation of marine ecosystems is widely accepted as a major social-ecological problem. The growing urgency to better manage marine ecosystems has led to the increasing application of ‘spatial ...

Authors: Bethan C. O’Leary, Bryce D. Stewart, Emma McKinley, Prue F. E. Addison, Chris Williams, Griffin Carpenter, David Righton and Katherine L. Yates

Use of literature mining for early identification of emerging contaminants in freshwater resources

Chemical and microbial contaminants in the aquatic environment pose a potential threat to humans and to ecosystems. Humans may be exposed to contaminants in water resources when used for drinking water product...

Authors: Julia Hartmann, Susanne Wuijts, Jan Peter van der Hoek and Ana Maria de Roda Husman

What are the effects of control of mosquitoes and other nematoceran Diptera using the microbial agent Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems? A systematic review protocol

The bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis serovar israelensis (Bti) is used in many countries as a biological larvicide to control dipteran insects of the suborder Nematocera, especially mosquitoes and black flies. Bt...

Authors: Magnus Land, Mirco Bundschuh, Richard J. Hopkins, Brigitte Poulin and Brendan G. McKie

What evidence exists for landbird species-environment relationships in eastern temperate and boreal forests of North America? A systematic map protocol

Eastern temperate and boreal forests of North America contain declining populations of several migratory bird species. Breeding season habitat loss and degradation, and lack of structural complexity, have been...

Authors: Casey A. Lott, Michael E. Akresh, Andrew J. Elmore, Cameron J. Fiss, Matthew C. Fitzpatrick, Cara J. Joos, David I. King, Darin J. McNeil, Scott H. Stoleson and Jeffery L. Larkin

Do small protected habitat patches within boreal production forests provide value for biodiversity conservation? A systematic review protocol

Forest harvesting is the main driver of habitat degradation and biodiversity loss in forests of the boreal zone. To mitigate harmful effects, small-scale habitats with high biodiversity values have been protec...

Authors: Matti Häkkilä, Sini Savilaakso, Anna Johansson, Terhi Sandgren, Anne Uusitalo, Mikko Mönkkönen and Pasi Puttonen

Effectiveness of ecotechnologies for recovery of nitrogen and phosphorus from anaerobic digestate and effectiveness of the recovery products as fertilisers: a systematic review protocol

The regular addition of plant-available nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, either as manufactured fertilisers or animal manure, to agricultural soils is needed for global food security. Increased recyc...

Authors: Biljana Macura, Solveig L. Johannesdottir, Mikołaj Piniewski, Neal R. Haddaway and Elisabeth Kvarnström

The relative effectiveness of seed addition methods for restoring or re-creating species rich grasslands: a systematic review protocol

Extensively managed grasslands in temperate biomes are capable of harboring a big variety of plant and invertebrate species. Yet, they have suffered from a strong decline in the past decades mainly due to agri...

Authors: Daniel Slodowicz, Jean-Yves Humbert and Raphaël Arlettaz

What is the available evidence for the range of applications of genome-editing as a new tool for plant trait modification and the potential occurrence of associated off-target effects: a systematic map

Within the last decades, genome-editing techniques such as CRISPR/Cas, TALENs, Zinc-Finger Nucleases, Meganucleases, Oligonucleotide-Directed Mutagenesis and base editing have been developed enabling a precise...

Authors: Dominik Modrzejewski, Frank Hartung, Thorben Sprink, Dörthe Krause, Christian Kohl and Ralf Wilhelm

What evidence exists on the effectiveness of the techniques and management approaches used to improve the productivity of field grown tomatoes under conditions of water-, nitrogen- and/or phosphorus-deficit? A systematic map protocol

There is an urgent need to ensure that food production is maintained in response to either a reduction in use or lack of availability of natural resources. To this end, several strategies have been investigate...

Authors: Nora Quesada, Pietro P. M. Iannetta, Philip J. White, Fanny Tran and Graham S. Begg

Are ladybird beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) affected by Bt proteins expressed in genetically modified insect-resistant crops? A systematic review protocol

Ladybird beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) are abundant predatory species in many agroecosystems, are valued for their biological pest control functions, and have been recommended as test species for studies...

Authors: Fernando Álvarez-Alfageme, Yann Devos, Irene Muñoz-Guajardo, Yunhe Li, Jörg Romeis and Michael Meissle

Systematic reviews of qualitative evidence for environmental policy and management: an overview of different methodological options

Qualitative research related to the human dimensions of conservation and environment is growing in quantity. Rigorous syntheses of such studies can help develop understanding and inform decision-making. They c...

Authors: Biljana Macura, Monika Suškevičs, Ruth Garside, Karin Hannes, Rebecca Rees and Romina Rodela

Using animal behavior in conservation management: a series of systematic reviews and maps

Authors: Alison L. Greggor, Daniel T. Blumstein, Bob B. M. Wong and Oded Berger-Tal

Correction to: What is the effectiveness of using conspecific or heterospecific acoustic playbacks for the attraction of animals for wildlife management? A systematic review protocol

Following publication of the original article [1], it was reported that the article entitled “What is the effectiveness of using conspecific or heterospecific acoustic playbacks for the attraction of animals f...

Authors: Breanna J. Putman and Daniel T. Blumstein

What evidence exists on the effects of anthropogenic noise on acoustic communication in animals? A systematic map protocol

Noise pollution is an intense, widespread anthropogenic disturbance that can have highly detrimental impacts on natural populations, communities, and ecosystems across the globe. One major way through which no...

Authors: Oded Berger-Tal, Bob B. M. Wong, Ulrika Candolin and Jesse Barber

Effect of anthropogenic light on bird movement, habitat selection, and distribution: a systematic map protocol

Anthropogenic light is known or suspected to exert profound effects on many taxa, including birds. Documentation of bird aggregation around artificial light at night, as well as observations of bird reactions ...

Authors: Carrie Ann Adams, Arden Blumenthal, Esteban Fernández-Juricic, Erin Bayne and Colleen Cassady St. Clair

What evidence exists on the effectiveness of different types of olfactory lures as attractants for invasive mammalian predators? A systematic map protocol

Alien mammalian predators are a major cause of species extinction and decline globally. Baits and lures, usually human-food based (for example meat, nuts or oils), are widely deployed in trapping programs to a...

Authors: Catherine J. Price, Peter B. Banks and Alison L. Greggor

Examining the efficacy of anti-predator training for increasing survival in conservation translocations: a systematic review protocol

How animals respond to predators can have consequences when they are reintroduced into the wild or translocated to new habitats. Animals raised in captivity often lack adequate experience with predators, and w...

Authors: Alison L. Greggor, Catherine J. Price and Debra M. Shier

Effectiveness of animal conditioning interventions in reducing human–wildlife conflict: a systematic map protocol

Human–wildlife conflict (HWC), is currently one of the most pressing conservation challenges. We restrict ourselves here to wildlife behaviour that is perceived to negatively impact social, economic or cultura...

Authors: Lysanne Snijders, Alison L. Greggor, Femke Hilderink and Carolina Doran

What is the available evidence that artificial light at night affects animal behaviour? A systematic map protocol

Artificial light at night (ALAN), has increased dramatically over the past two centuries and is linked to demonstrable shifts in a range of behaviours across diverse animal taxa. This systematic map will colla...

Authors: Lucy Katherine McLay, Juhani Peter Hopkins, Bob Bern Ming Wong, Ulrika Candolin and Therésa Melanie Jones

EviAtlas: a tool for visualising evidence synthesis databases

Systematic mapping assesses the nature of an evidence base, answering how much evidence exists on a particular topic. Perhaps the most useful outputs of a systematic map are an interactive database of studies ...

Authors: Neal R. Haddaway, Andrew Feierman, Matthew J. Grainger, Charles T. Gray, Ezgi Tanriver-Ayder, Sanita Dhaubanjar and Martin J. Westgate

Mapping the predicted and potential impacts of metal mining and its mitigation measures in Arctic and boreal regions using environmental and social impact assessments: a systematic map protocol

Since the 1960s, environmental impact assessments (EIAs) and recently, social impact assessments (SIAs), have been conducted during the planning stages of large development projects to identify potential adver...

Authors: Biljana Macura, Neal R. Haddaway, Pamela Lesser and Annika E. Nilsson

The effectiveness of spawning habitat creation or enhancement for substrate-spawning temperate fish: a systematic review

Habitat is the foundation for healthy and productive fisheries. For fish that require substrate for spawning, lack of appropriate spawning substrate is inherently limiting and a lack of access to suitable spaw...

Authors: Jessica J. Taylor, Trina Rytwinski, Joseph R. Bennett, Karen E. Smokorowski, Nicolas W. R. Lapointe, Richard Janusz, Keith Clarke, Bill Tonn, Jessica C. Walsh and Steven J. Cooke

What are the effects of even-aged and uneven-aged forest management on boreal forest biodiversity in Fennoscandia and European Russia? A systematic review protocol

Biodiversity is vital for human well-being, but is threatened by human actions world-wide. In the boreal zone, harvesting and management of forests on an industrial scale is the most important factor driving h...

Authors: Sini Savilaakso, Matti Häkkilä, Anna Johansson, Anne Uusitalo, Terhi Sandgren, Mikko Mönkkönen and Pasi Puttonen

Can conservation targets for imperilled freshwater fishes and mussels be achieved by captive breeding and release programs? A systematic map protocol to determine available evidence

Captive breeding programs are one of the many tools used by conservation practitioners as a means of conserving, supporting, and supplementing populations of imperilled species. Captive breeding programs exist...

Authors: Lisa A. Donaldson, Trina Rytwinski, Jessica J. Taylor, Joseph R. Bennett, D. Andrew R. Drake, André Martel and Steven J. Cooke

Bridging Indigenous and science-based knowledge in coastal-marine research, monitoring, and management in Canada: a systematic map protocol

The incorporation of multiple types of knowledge (e.g., science, Indigenous knowledge, traditional ecological knowledge) is an important undertaking, which can strengthen the evidence-base for policy advice, d...

Authors: Steven M. Alexander, Jennifer F. Provencher, Dominique A. Henri, Jessica J. Taylor and Steven J. Cooke

Impact of structural habitat modifications in coastal temperate systems on fish recruitment: a systematic review

Shallow nearshore marine ecosystems are changing at an increasing rate due to a range of human activities such as urbanisation and commercial development. As a result, an increasing number of structural modifi...

Authors: Biljana Macura, Pär Byström, Laura Airoldi, Britas Klemens Eriksson, Lars Rudstam and Josianne G. Støttrup

Evidence of the impacts of metal mining and the effectiveness of mining mitigation measures on social–ecological systems in Arctic and boreal regions: a systematic map protocol

Mining activities, including prospecting, exploration, construction, operation, maintenance, expansion, abandonment, decommissioning and repurposing of a mine can impact social and environmental systems in a r...

Authors: Neal R. Haddaway, Steven J. Cooke, Pamela Lesser, Biljana Macura, Annika E. Nilsson, Jessica J. Taylor and Kaisa Raito

Evidence of the environmental impact of noise pollution on biodiversity: a systematic map protocol

For decades, biodiversity has suffered massive losses worldwide. Urbanization is one of the major drivers of extinction because it leads to the physical fragmentation and loss of natural habitats and it is ass...

Authors: Romain Sordello, Frédérique Flamerie De Lachapelle, Barbara Livoreil and Sylvie Vanpeene

What is the effectiveness of using conspecific or heterospecific acoustic playbacks for the attraction of animals for wildlife management? A systematic review protocol

Many animals are attracted to the sounds of their conspecifics and some are attracted to the sounds of other species. Therefore, wildlife managers have begun to capitalize on this attraction to lure animals to...

Authors: Breanna J. Putman and Daniel T. Blumstein

What evidence exists relating to effectiveness of ecotechnologies in agriculture for the recovery and reuse of carbon and nutrients in the Baltic and boreo-temperate regions? A systematic map protocol

The degradation of the water quality of the Baltic Sea is an ongoing problem, despite investments in measures to reduce external inputs of pollutants and nutrients from both diffuse and point sources. Excessiv...

Authors: Neal R. Haddaway, Mikołaj Piniewski and Biljana Macura

What is the evidence that ecosystem components or functions have an impact on infectious diseases? A systematic review protocol

Many infectious pathogens can be transmitted from animals to humans and vice versa, or by animals (especially arthropods) to humans. Such diseases are called zoonotic and/or vector-borne diseases. To control o...

Authors: Léa Lugassy, Ludivine Amdouni-Boursier, Haoues Alout, Romuald Berrebi, Christophe Boëte, Franck Boué, Nathalie Boulanger, Jean-François Cosson, Thierry Durand, Michel de Garine-Wichatitsky, Sylvain Larrat, Marie Moinet, Catherine Moulia, Nonito Pagès, Olivier Plantard, Vincent Robert…

A systematic map of evidence on the contribution of forests to poverty alleviation

Forests provide an essential resource to the livelihoods of an estimated 20% of the global population. The contribution of forest ecosystems and forest-based resources to poverty reduction is increasingly emph...

Authors: Samantha H. Cheng, Kavita MacLeod, Sofia Ahlroth, Stefanie Onder, Emilie Perge, Priya Shyamsundar, Pushpendra Rana, Ruth Garside, Patti Kristjanson, Madeleine C. McKinnon and Daniel C. Miller

Engaging environmental policy-makers with systematic reviews: challenges, solutions and lessons learned

The creation and accumulation of robust bodies of knowledge, along with their dissemination, utilisation and integration in decision support are key to improving the use of evidence in decision-making. Systema...

Authors: Alexandra M. Collins, Deborah Coughlin and Nicola Randall

What ecotechnologies exist for recycling carbon and nutrients from domestic wastewater? A systematic map protocol

Pollution of the Baltic Sea continues to be a problem. Major terrestrial sources of nutrient emissions to the Baltic Sea are agriculture and wastewater, both major causes of eutrophication. Wastewater contains...

Authors: Neal R. Haddaway, Solveig L. Johannesdottir, Mikołaj Piniewski and Biljana Macura

Scientific evidence for sustainable plant disease protection strategies for the main arable crops in Sweden. A systematic map protocol

Efficient and sustainable plant protection is of great economic and ecological significance for global crop production. A number of challenges, e.g. climate change, population growth and global trade, put incr...

Authors: Anna Berlin, Helena Nordström Källström, Anders Lindgren and Åke Olson

Cassava farming practices and their agricultural and environmental impacts: a systematic map protocol

Cassava (Manihot esculenta) is a staple crop that is important for food security in the tropics. However, cassava farming can have severe environmental impacts, such as habitat destruction and soil degradation, i...

Authors: Gorm E. Shackelford, Neal R. Haddaway, Hope O. Usieta, Pieter Pypers, Silviu O. Petrovan and William J. Sutherland

What do we know about the impacts of the Marine Stewardship Council seafood ecolabelling program? A systematic map protocol

Voluntary sustainability standards and eco-labels are market-based mechanisms used to encourage producers and consumers toward environmental sustainability. The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is one such pro...

Authors: Ashleigh Arton, Anthony Leiman, Gillian Petrokofsky, Hilde Toonen, Francis Neat and Catherine S. Longo

What is the impact of continuous cover forestry compared to clearcut forestry on stand-level biodiversity in boreal and temperate forests? A systematic review protocol

The ecosystem services provided by forests are essential for societal well-being. Production forests are increasingly expected to provide a range of ecosystem services in addition to wood biomass, as well as t...

Authors: Meelis Seedre, Adam Felton and Matts Lindbladh

What spatially explicit quantitative evidence exists that shows the effect of land tenure on illegal hunting of endangered terrestrial mammals in sub-Saharan Africa? A systematic map protocol

Over the last two decades there has been an increase in the demand for land in Sub Saharan Africa, particularly from foreign agribusiness investment to provide food for an increasing human population. The majo...

Authors: Isla Duporge, Timothy Hodgetts and Maria Brett

Open Synthesis: on the need for evidence synthesis to embrace Open Science

The Open Science movement can be broadly summarised as aiming to promote integrity, repeatability and transparency across all aspects of research, from data collection to publication. Systematic reviews and sy...

Authors: Neal R. Haddaway

What evidence is available on the drivers of grassland ecosystem stability across a range of outcome measurements: a systematic map protocol

Recently there has been considerable focus on the ecosystem services concept which has resulted in important advancements in biodiversity conservation across land management scales. Many have, however, caution...

Authors: Stuart Demmer, Kevin Kirkman and Michelle Tedder

Evidence for the impacts of agroforestry on agricultural productivity, ecosystem services, and human well-being in high-income countries: a systematic map protocol

Agroforestry bridges the gap that often separates agriculture and forestry by building integrated systems that address both environmental and socio-economic objectives. Agroforestry can improve the resiliency ...

Authors: Sarah E. Brown, Daniel C. Miller, Pablo J. Ordonez and Kathy Baylis

Evidence of effects of herbivory on Arctic vegetation: a systematic map protocol

Along with climate change, herbivory is considered a main driver of ecosystem change in terrestrial Arctic environments. Understanding how herbivory influences the resilience of Arctic ecosystems to ongoing en...

Authors: E. M. Soininen, I. Barrio, J. U. Jepsen, D. Ehrich, V. T. Ravolainen and J. D. M. Speed

Absence of evidence for the conservation outcomes of systematic conservation planning around the globe: a systematic map

Systematic conservation planning is a discipline concerned with the prioritisation of resources for biodiversity conservation and is often used in the design or assessment of terrestrial and marine protected a...

Authors: Emma J. McIntosh, Sarah Chapman, Stephen G. Kearney, Brooke Williams, Glenn Althor, Jessica P. R. Thorn, Robert L. Pressey, Madeleine C. McKinnon and Richard Grenyer

Response to “Every ROSE has its thorns”

Sharp et al. [1] raise a number of concerns about the development and communication of ROSES (RepOrting standards for Systematic Evidence Syntheses), and we welcome the opportunity to explain some of the underlyi...

Authors: Neal R. Haddaway, Biljana Macura, Paul Whaley and Andrew S. Pullin