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Structural habitats support high biodiversity by providing refuge, forage resources, and recruitment habitat that upwardly influence the broader faunal community structure. However, there are few system-wide studies that empirically measure communities before and after major shifts in habitat structure or availability, limiting our ability to predict the consequences of changes in structural habitat above local scales. We used the collapse of the Apalachicola Bay, Florida oyster population as a natural experiment to assess the impacts of estuary-wide structural habitat loss on the nekton community through long-term faunal monitoring data. Habitat losses of this magnitude are expected to decrease diversity and alter composition, so we expected to observe these changes in Apalachicola Bay after the oyster population collapse. We assessed changes in Gini-Simpson diversity and composition over a 21-year period encompassing the 2012 oyster collapse using generalized linear mixed models to account for confounding drivers. We surprisingly found no evidence that Gini-Simpson diversity or composition differed immediately before or following the collapse, which may be explained if estuarine fauna were able to effectively use other habitats. This suggests that proportional changes in diversity or composition from loss or gain of structural habitats cannot be assumed at the system-wide scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecosystem engineers alter habitat and resource availability within ecosystems, but the magnitude of these effects depends on abiotic context and spatial scale. We examined how the effects of freshwater mussels, an ecosystem engineer, changed with spatial scale. We combined a field enclosure experiment and comparative field study to evaluate associations among mussels and macroinvertebrate communities across three spatial scales: mussel individuals (~ 0.01 m2), patches of mussels (0.25 m2), and large aggregations of many mussel patches (mussel beds, ~ 1000 m2). We used canonical correspondence analysis and variation partitioning to evaluate how mussel abundance, food availability, substrate heterogeneity, and flow influenced macroinvertebrate communities. We found that mussels' influence on macroinvertebrate communities differed among spatial scales. At the smallest scale, macroinvertebrate density increased on the shells of live mussels, likely due to mussel influences on food availability to grazers. At the patch scale, we found no mussel effects, likely because they were overridden by a flood event. At the mussel bed scale, macroinvertebrate communities were primarily controlled by flow and secondarily by food availability. As such, the continued loss of freshwater mussels means the loss of habitat creation and food provisioning for other aquatic groups, and alteration of facilitation landscapes within streams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Documenting floristic diversity, its natural history traits and habitat affiliation offers crucial insights for developing conservation strategies and management plans for regional biodiversity. In this study, we employed random sampling technique to investigate the floristic composition, natural history trait diversity and habitat distribution among 12 major forest types spread across an elevational gradient of 350–3450 m a.s.l. in the western Himalayan region of Jammu and Kashmir. We recorded 451 species belonging to 90 families in the study region, with herbaceous growth form, perennial life span and therophyte categories dominant. We observed a steady increase in species richness from 800 to 2000 m a.s.l., with highest at 1750 m a.s.l. in the Himalayan dry temperate forest type and then a decreasing trend with elevation. In terms of species turnover, the lowest dissimilarity of 36.8% was found between the Himalayan dry temperate and Fir forests. Whereas, considering species replacement (βsne), the highest similarity of 17.3% was found between the lower western Himalayan and Himalayan dry temperate forests. This shows that beta‐diversity patterns between different forest types are mostly driven by species replacement. Multivariate analysis revealed three major groups in the entire forest species pool. Habitat‐wise, 34% species were recorded in the natural habitats, while the remaining 66% were found in human‐modified habitats (roadsides, piospheres). Our findings will improve scientific understanding of the forest vegetation of this Himalayan region and help in guiding forest policy and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ceracris kiangsu (Orthoptera: Arcypteridae), is greatly affected by climatic factors and exhibits strong adaptability, posing a serious threat to the ecological environment. Therefore, predicting its potential suitable habitat distribution provides a proactive theoretical basis for pest control. This study using the Biomod2 package of R simulated and predicted the current and future potential distribution, area changes, changes in the center points of suitable habitats, and niche shifts of C. kiangsu under two different greenhouse gas emission scenarios, SSP1-26 and SSP5-85. The results show that: (1) Currently, the high suitability areas for C. kiangsu are mainly distributed in Yunnan, Jiangxi, Hunan provinces in southern China and phongsaly province in northern Laos. In the future, the center of the suitable habitat distribution pattern of C. kiangsu will remain unchanged, primarily expanding outward from medium and high suitability areas. Additionally, significant suitable habitats for C. kiangsu were discovered in Southeast Asian countries without previous pest records. (2) Compared to the present, the overall suitable habitat area for C. kiangsu is expected to expand, particularly under the SSP5-85 climate change scenario. (3) In the SSP1-26 and SSP5-85 climate scenarios, the geometric center of the suitable habitat generally shows a trend of gradually shifting northeast. (4) Under different climate scenarios, the suitable habitat of C. kiangsu has highly overlapping, indicating that the suitable habitat of C. kiangsu in the invaded areas is broader than in its native regions. In conclusion, the research findings represent a breakthrough in identifying the potential distribution areas of C. kiangsu, which is of great practical significance for the monitoring and control of C. kiangsu pest infestation in China and Southeast Asian countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The depths of the North Atlantic Ocean host a species-rich fauna providing heterogeneous habitats from thermal vent fields to cold-water coral reefs. With the increasing threat of destruction of deep-sea habitats due to human impacts, such as demersal fishing and the beginning of deep-sea mining, an analysis of the diversity and distribution of species is crucial for conservation efforts. Brittle stars occur in high biomasses, contributing to the biodiversity of the seafloor. Specimens were collected during several scientific expeditions to gain a more detailed insight into the brittle star diversity in the North Atlantic Ocean. An integrative approach to identify the species with DNA barcoding (mtCOI) in combination with morphological studies revealed 24 species. Most species have been previously identified in the North Atlantic, but sequences for 13 species are newly added to public repositories. Additionally, the MALDI-TOF-MS proteomic analysis was successfully applied for 197 specimens with known COI barcodes. Results are congruent with other molecular species delimitations demonstrating the functionality of proteomics for the identification of brittle stars. This dataset significantly expands our understanding of the taxonomic and genetic diversity of brittle stars and contributes to publicly available data. It emphasizes the importance of considering habitat heterogeneity for large scale patterns of biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the habitat types, thirty species of cyprinids in nine streams located in the Western Ghat mountain ranges, hotspot of biodiversity have been classified into six guilds. Shallow pools (<60cm deep and velocities <30 cm/s) were preferred by juveniles and adults of big sized barbs such as Hypselobarbus micropogon, Tor khudree and Neolissochilus wynaadensis. Slow riffles (< 60 cm deep and velocities 30-59 cm/s) were preferredby juveniles of surface dwellers such as Barilius canarensis, B. gatensis, Devario aequipinnatus, Salmophasia boopis, Salmophasia acinaces and Chela labuca; bottom and substrate dwellers such as Garramullya and Garra stenorhynchus. Fast riffles (< 60 cm deep and velocities ≥ 60 cm/s) were preferred by the surface dwelling species and species of Garra. Almost all the cyprinid species preferred the medium pool (60-149 cmdeep and velocities <30 cm/s). Big sized barbs and torines (game fish) were confined to deep pools (≥150 cm deep). Among the nine streams raceway is identified in one stream (60-149cm deep and velocities ≥30 cm/s) which was preferred by juveniles and adults of Garra stenorhynchus and Barilius gatensis. Guild structures ofcyprinid species are consistent in almost all the streams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adaptation to new habitats might facilitate species' range shifts in response to climate change. In 2005, we transplanted experimental populations of coastal dune plant Camissoniopsis cheiranthifolia into 4 sites within and 1 site beyond its poleward range limit. Beyond-range transplants had high fitness but often delayed reproduction. To test for adaptation associated with experimental range expansion, we transplanted descendants from beyond- and within-range populations after 10 generations in situ into 2 sites within the range, 1 at the range edge, and 2 sites beyond the range. We expected to detect adaptation to beyond-range conditions due to substantial genetic variation within experimental populations and environmental variation among sites. However, individuals from beyond-range experimental populations were not fitter than those from within the range when planted at either beyond-range site, indicating no adaptation to the beyond-range site or beyond-range environments in general. Beyond-range descendants also did not suffer lower fitness within the range. Although reproduction was again delayed beyond the range, late reproduction was not favored more strongly beyond than within the range, and beyond-range descendants did not delay reproduction more than within-range descendants. Persistence in beyond-range environments may not require adaptation, which could allow a rapid response to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stalter, R. and Lonard, R.I., 2024. Biological flora of sand dunes on the northwest Pacific coastline of North America: Ammophila arenaria (L.) Link and Ammophila breviligulata Fernald. Journal of Coastal Research, 40(5), 994–1000. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208. Ammophila arenaria, native to European coastal dunes, was initially introduced on the Pacific coast of North America in 1868, while A. breviligulata was introduced to temperate regions along the Pacific coast in 1935. Both rhizomatous taxa are often dominant on coastal foredunes. Ammophila arenaria has short, thick rhizomes, while A. breviligulata has a spreading rhizome system. Both species have been introduced for sand stabilization and shoreline protection. The primary method of reproduction for both taxa is fragmentation of rhizomes. Ammophila breviligulata aggressively competes with A. arenaria and is now dominant over A. arenaria at many sites. The introduction of A. arenaria and A. breviligulata has contributed to dense cover on foredunes and a concomitant decline of native plants and animals, especially those dependent on open sand habitats. Ammophila breviligulata successfully competes with A. arenaria, which has reduced dune heights, increasing the number of areas vulnerable to storm surges and dune erosion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A species is expected to be most resilient to environmental change when it occurs across a broad diversity of habitats. However, there is often no visual representation of the past (i.e. prehistoric and historical) context for a species in the range maps published by national and global authorities. Therefore, it is easy to overlook the fact that many species once occupied a broader geographic range, or greater diversity of habitats. Such oversights hinder the effective conservation of species that have become restricted to a subset of their formerly occupied habitats. Here, we quantified the shifted baseline that may underpin some of the ecological misconceptions about species, and developed a rapid assessment method to aid the identification and prioritisation of 'potential refugee species' (i.e. species that have become restricted to a subset of their formerly occupied niche). The assessment of potential refugee status is different from, but complementary to, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List and Green Status frameworks. Our framework defines a continuum of potential refugee status, which was demonstratable in continent‐scale maps drawn from biogeographic regionalisation. Applying this framework to all native rodent species across the continent of Australia (a group that has suffered several extinctions and notable declines), we found that the risk of ecological misconceptions caused by shifted baselines (i.e. resulting from 'shifting baseline syndrome') was prevalent. This suggests that in many cases, translocation opportunities that might be avoided because they are perceived as conservation introductions (as defined by the IUCN translocation guidelines), may in fact fall within the indigenous range, and should therefore be considered reasonable reintroductions. Ultimately, our potential refugee assessment framework will help to facilitate the undertaking of ambitious translocations that will build species' resilience to environmental change by resuming their adaptation to habitats across all formerly occupied bioregions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) represent the largest global network of sites critical to the persistence of biodiversity, which have been identified against standardised quantitative criteria. Sites that hold very high biodiversity value or potential are given specific attention on site‐based conservation targets of the Kunming‐Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), and KBAs are already used in indicators for the GBF and the Sustainable Development Goals. However, most of the species that trigger KBA status are birds and to maximise benefits for biodiversity under the actions taken to fulfil the GBF, countries need to update their KBAs to represent important sites across multiple taxa. Here we introduce KBAscope, an R package to identify potential KBAs using multiple taxonomic groups. KBAscope provides flexible, user‐friendly functions to edit species data (population, range maps, area of occupancy, area of habitat and localities); apply KBA criteria; and generate outputs to support the delineation and validation of KBAs. The details of the analysis – such as the spatial units tested or the KBA criteria applied – can be decided according to the scope of the analysis. We demonstrate the functionality of KBAscope by using it to identify potential KBAs in Greece based on multiple terrestrial taxonomic groups and four sizes of grid cells (4 km2, 25 km2, 100 km2, 225 km2). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A full-life cycle approach is a tenet of migratory species conservation, yet the degree to which this is achieved remains largely unassessed. This knowledge gap can be addressed using the concept of social-ecological fit, understood as the match between governance and ecological dimensions. Here, we assess the social-ecological fit for conserving migratory shorebirds in the Asia–Pacific, focusing on habitat loss and hunting. We identify the governance architectures for addressing these two threats and then assess the coordinating capacity of each architecture, measure institutional coverage for each species across their range, and determine the degree of institutional connectivity along their migratory network. We find that social-ecological fit is higher for the governance of habitat designation than for hunting management, with implications for governance practice. Analyses of social-ecological fit thus provide critical insights on the potential effectiveness of governance and therefore are a useful first step for migratory species conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 21-day continuous monitoring of a highly tridimensional forest of the black coral Antipathella subpinnata (Ellis and Solander 1786) was carried out in the NW Mediterranean Sea at 63 m depth using an autonomous lander to investigate the diel short-term dynamics of the vagile fauna associated to the forest. The survey allowed to assess several aspects of the forest attractiveness and its use, especially by the ichthyofauna, including (i) the diversity and shifts of the fish community inhabiting three layers of the environment (seafloor, canopy, water column) between four light phases (dawn, day, dusk, night), (ii) the diel rhythm in forest use of the red swallowtail perch Anthias anthias (Linnaeus 1758) and its sleeping behaviour in terms of fidelity towards resting sites, duration of rests, and awakenings triggers, and, finally, (iii) the influence of biotic and abiotic variables on the fish behaviour. Considering that, so far, only spot censuses have been carried out in these habitats, this study provides a dynamic approach to the study of biodiversity in temperate mesophotic coral forests and offers an insight into the functioning of these complex and vulnerable ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To develop an aggregate model that integrated clinical data, habitat characteristics, and intratumoral and peritumoral features to assess the risk categorization of thymomas. We retrospectively analyzed 140 thymoma patients (70 low-risk and 70 high-risk), including pathological data. The patients were randomly divided into training cohort (n = 114) and test cohort (n = 26). The k-means clustering was utilized to partition the primary tumor into habitats based on intratumoral radiomic features, 6 distinct habitats were identified. By expanding the region of interest (ROI) mask, 2 peritumoral regions were obtained. Finally, 7 clinical characteristics, 3 habitat values, 20 radiomic features were utilized to develop an aggregated model, to predict the risk of thymoma. Shapley additive explanations (SHAP) interpretation was used for features importance ranking. The accuracy and area under curve (AUC) were used to analyze the performance of the models. The aggregated model, which utilized the XGBoost classifier, demonstrated the best performance with an AUC of 0.811 and an accuracy of 0.769. In comparison, the radiomic model produced an AUC of 0.654 and an accuracy of 0.692. Additionally, the Intratumoral + peritumoral model exhibited an AUC of 0.728 and an accuracy of 0.769. Our study establishes a novel tool to predict the risk of thymoma with a good performance. If prospectively validated, the model may refine thymoma patient selection for risk-adaptative therapy and improve prognosis. • The first use of tumor habitat, peritumoral on thymomas opens new research avenues. • We designed a new method to describe the internal heterogeneity of tumor. • Our model has the potential to improve the accuracy of diagnosis assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different measures of macroinvertebrate diversity (species diversity, functional diversity, phylogenetic diversity) and functional feeding groups (FFGs) are commonly used to assess the ecological status of large shallow lakes. In this study, biodiversity and FFGs in a large shallow lake, Lake Hongze, differed between littoral and pelagic habitats, with the spatial variability of littoral assemblages more correlated with nutrient concentrations, whilst pelagic assemblages were more associated with wave-induced disturbance (e.g., mean effective fetch). Species diversity was poorly correlated with measures of nutrient concentrations, whereas functional diversity, phylogenetic diversity, and functional feeding groups are promising indicators of nutrient concentrations. Lastly, our findings support the use of biodiversity and FFGs to disentangle the effects of nutrients and wave-induced disturbance on macroinvertebrate assemblages. Furthermore, monitoring both littoral and pelagic habitats in large shallow lakes is recommended to better understand and quantify ecosystem changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Floodplains are heterogeneous systems adjacent to large rivers periodically flooded by water originating from the river's lateral flow. During floods, the water flows into the surrounding channels, ponds and lakes, creating an integrated dynamic system characterized by a mosaic of lotic and lentic habitats and by the exchange of nutrients and inhabiting organisms between the main river and its floodplain. This study included a total of 14 sampling sites in a floodplain of the Danube River, designated as a Ramsar site. Seven study sites were in near natural condition, while seven others were separated from the Danube floodplain by an embankment and thus were anthropogenically disturbed (e.g. by hydro–morphological alterations and pollution from agricultural fields). Odonata nymphs were sampled over a two–year period in each season using a benthos hand net. A total of 20 Odonata species were recorded. Some of the documented species are of national and/or international conservation concern, which confirms the conservation value of the habitats studied. Species richness, abundance, taxonomic and functional diversity of Odonata were significantly higher at the anthropogenically disturbed sites than at the near natural sites within the studied floodplain area and correlated positively with macrophyte assemblage metrics (species richness, abundance, diversity). The macrophyte assemblage metrics, water transparency, copper and nitrate concentrations and oxygen saturation in the water were key environmental factors shaping Odonata assemblages in the studied floodplain. As Odonata are used as bioindicators of freshwater status worldwide, the presented results could be used in the protection of endangered wetland ecosystems and their biota. The importance of aquatic macrophytes for the conservation of the local Odonata diversity should be considered in the management of anthropogenically disturbed habitats in protected areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nature reserve of Bec du Feyi near Wibrin has been the object of protection and nature conservation management measures for over 30 years to ensure its perennity. The reserve consists mainly of a mosaic of hay meadows, marshes, ponds, aquatic environments and old clear-cuts in the process of recolonization. The manager shares his thoughts on the evolution of nature through the various environments and habitats that make up this natural site, based on the impact of management actions, but also based on the influence of the numerous factors affecting the local environment and, more broadly, climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the development and main results of a project underway in present-day Iraqi Kurdistan. The excavations and studies carried out at the Gird Lashkir site, on the plain near the course of the Tigris River, make it possible to contribute significantly to our understanding of the historical evolution of the period from the fourth to the second millennium in northern Mesopotamia. At the chronological level, it focuses on the stratigraphic data and the characterization of the habitat in the complex societies of the third millennium cal BCE. As required by the current development of the discipline, the studies are interdisciplinary and with broad cooperation among researchers from institutions of different nationalities, particularly from Iraqi Kurdistan itself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is concerned with the spreading behavior of a two-species strong-weak competition system with two free boundaries. The model may describe how a strong competing species invades into the habitat of a native weak competing species. The asymptotic spreading speed of invading fronts has been determined by making use of semi-wave systems in Du et al. (J Math Pures Appl 107:253–287, 2017). Here we give a sharp estimate for the asymptotic spreading speed of invading fronts. Moreover, we prove that the solution of the free boundary problem evolves eventually into a semi-wave solution when the spreading happens, while the solution of the free boundary problem exponentially converges to a semi-trivial solution of such system when the vanishing happens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper concerns a discrete diffusive predator–prey system involving two competing predators and one prey in a shifting habitat induced by the climate change. By assuming that both predators can increase when the prey is at the maximal capacity and the prey can still survive under optimal climatic conditions when these two predators have their maximal densities, we investigate the existence and non-existence for different types of forced traveling waves which describe the conversion from the state of a saturated aboriginal prey with two invading alien predators, an aboriginal co-existent predator–prey with an invading alien predator, and the coexistence of three species to the extinction state, respectively. The existence of supercritical and critical forced waves is showed by applying Schauder's fixed point theorem on various invariant cones via constructing different types of generalized super- and sub-solutions while the non-existence of subcritical forced waves is obtained by contradiction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Ecology of urban wild mammals is studied twice as often as human dimensions. • Canids and murids are the most studied taxonomic families. • Human dimensions research is dominated by a conflict narrative. • Sound planning policy for biophilic future cities requires more interdisciplinary research. • We propose a research agenda for future research on urban wild mammals. Future cities have the potential to be biodiverse areas in which humans and wildlife can coexist. However, the success of creating or maintaining wildlife-inclusive future cities can be challenged by management actions that are solely based on ecological research, while overlooking research on human perspectives. Despite the growth of literature on human-wildlife interactions, which complements the breadth of urban ecology research, the overlap between these two research areas is still uncommon. In this study, we reviewed the literature of wild mammals in urban areas to identify patterns and gaps in the literature. We found 848 published journal articles, of which 480 articles focused on wildlife ecology, 269 articles focused on human dimensions and 99 articles had interdisciplinary combinations of both. Ecology-centered publications tended to be about habitat, rather than behavior, diet, health, reproduction and inter-species-relations, and literature on human dimensions was more evenly divided into management, perception, conflict and coexistence. Most ecology studies reported on specific taxonomic families, mainly canids and murids, but in human-dimension studies, "wildlife" was considered more as a general community of species. The most studied interdisciplinary combination of research themes was wildlife habitat and human-wildlife conflicts (n = 22), while only nine studies incorporated perception with ecological research. Even though studies on human dimensions of wildlife in cities are increasing, interdisciplinary research is lacking, which limits the knowledge on how to manage and shape urban areas to achieve coexistence of humans and wild mammals. For future cities to successfully become biophilic and support human-wildlife coexistence, we outlined five key elements for a research agenda: 1) Investigate urban mammal research through an interdisciplinary lens; 2) Explore ecological dynamics beyond habitat selection; 3) Conduct research for coexistence; 4) Disentangle what is "urban wildlife"; 5) Study a diverse array of urban wild mammals. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Erosion poses a significant threat to coastal and estuarine environments worldwide and is further exacerbated by anthropogenic activities and increasing coastal hazards. While conventional engineered structures, such as seawalls and revetments, are commonly employed to protect shorelines from wave impact and erosion, they can also cause detrimental environmental effects. By creating/restoring coastal habitats with engineered structures, hybrid living shorelines offer coastal protection and other co-benefits. Using aerial imagery, we studied the rates of shoreline change before and after living shoreline installation, and between living shorelines and adjacent bare shorelines in three estuaries in New South Wales, Australia. Mangroves had established behind most rock fillets and displayed a trend of increasing canopy cover with fillet age. In the first 3 years since installation, the rates of lateral shoreline change reduced from − 0.20, − 0.16, and − 0.10 m/year to − 0.03, − 0.01, and 0.06 m/year in living shorelines in Hunter, Manning, and Richmond Rivers, respectively. However, when compared to control shorelines, the effectiveness in reducing erosion varied among living shorelines with mean effect sizes of 0.04, − 0.28, and 1.74 across the three estuaries. A more positive rate of shoreline change was associated with an increasing percentage of mangrove canopy area and an increasing length of protected shoreline at wide channels. While hybrid mangrove living shorelines are a promising solution for mitigating erosion and creating habitats at an estuary-wide scale, they may also contribute to downdrift erosion, emphasising the importance of considering site-specific hydrogeomorphology and sediment movement when installing living shorelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although position within the estuarine landscape is known to influence structural characteristics and ecological functioning of many habitats, the influence of position on subtidal oyster reef characteristics and functioning is relatively understudied. This study assessed habitat provision by oysters and benthic macrofauna on subtidal bar and patch oyster reefs within the northwestern Gulf of Mexico estuary. Bar reefs had greater and more variable oyster density, biomass, and volume, as well as dead shell material, compared to patch reefs. Benthic macrofaunal community composition differed between reef types, with bar reefs hosting 11× and 30× higher biomass of Porcellanidae and Ampithoidae crustaceans, and patch reefs supporting 34× and 47× higher biomass of Eunicidae annelids and Leptocheliidae crustaceans. The environmental variables most highly correlated with macrofaunal communities on both bar and patch reefs were sediment chlorophyll-a, volume of dead oyster shells, and depth. Despite differences in structural characteristics and position within the estuarine landscape, subtidal oyster reefs are often managed as a single habitat type. Our findings emphasize the importance of considering location in oyster reef conservation and restoration efforts to better predict and optimize faunal provision outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To fulfill the operational demands of deep-sea tracked mining vehicles traversing soft seabed substrates, an evaluation of the characteristics of these substrates was conducted, drawing a comparison with the land swamp black soil found in the buffalo's habitat. Employing the principles of biomimicry, two distinct types of bionic grouser were devised, replicating the configuration of the buffalo's hooves in both the horizontal and vertical planes. Utilizing self-constructed testing platforms, exhaustive examinations of the reinforcement efficacy of these bionic track grousers were undertaken, spanning from single-grouser to multi-grouser configurations and encompassing the entire track assembly. The findings unequivocally demonstrate a pronounced and consistent enhancement in traction force for both types of bionic grousers. Notably, the W-shaped bionic grouser, mimicking the horizontal contour of the buffalo's hoof, exhibits the most substantial increase in traction force. The maximum enhancement in traction force for individual bionic grouser exceeds 30%, while the overall track achieves an increase of over 19%. This research provides a valuable reference and establishes a foundational framework for the design of equipment tailored for the locomotion of deep-sea tracked mining vehicles across soft substrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the growing popularity of nature tourism, we have limited systemic knowledge of how it affects nature, from both an abiotic and biotic perspective, and what these effects are in different regions, habitats or trail types. Here we propose a coordinated global experiment framework – GetDiv – for a comprehensive understanding of the effects of visitor's load on the vegetation of nature trails. For preliminary analysis we selected 20 trails in Estonia, and we show that plant diversity along the trails is negatively affected by visitoŕs load in both forest and open habitat. We present here the rationale for the methodological approach, and call for a coordinated global effort to collect comparable and comprehensive data of diverse aspects of nature trails, with a focus on plant diversity. All the necessary guidelines and protocols to fill out for participating in GetDiv are included in the GetDiv webpage: . For participation in the first GetDiv study, the deadline for contribution is December 2024. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, artificial wildlife structures are used widely to enhance breeding habitat or provide shelter for a host of wildlife species. They are commonly used to enhance roosting habitat for tree-dwelling bats. A remnant population of Nationally Critical long-tailed bats (Chalinolobus tuberculatus) survives in South Canterbury, New Zealand, but optimal roosting habitat is rare and breeding success low. To enhance breeding habitat, 96 Schwegler bat boxes were deployed as artificial wildlife structures in trees in regenerating indigenous forest (n = 44) and farmland (n = 52) close to known, but poor quality, maternity roosts. Schwegler boxes have similar thermal properties to high quality natural roosts. Boxes were inspected five times over 12 years. Long-tailed bats, or their signs, were detected in 10% of boxes. In addition, a new population of geckos (Woodworthia ‘Southern Alps’) was detected (occupying 26% of boxes), South Island rifleman (Acanthisitta chloris chloris) nested in 35% of boxes and a range of invertebrates was detected, but not identified, except for Canterbury tree wētā (Hemideina femorata; 40% of the boxes). Most occupancies were in regenerating forest. While boxes were unsuccessful at attracting large numbers of long-tailed bats, use by other wildlife was unforeseen, suggesting a useful tool for sampling wildlife in arboreal habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

African elephants (Loxodonta africana) play a significant role in the modification of their habitat, foremost by decreasing woody vegetation cover and density. Little is known regarding the effects of elephant habitat disturbance (EHD) on medium-to-large mammal and bird communities. While the intermediate disturbance hypothesis (IDH) predicts species richness and diversity will be maximised in areas of moderate EHD, high levels of EHD could result in habitat degradation and negatively impact certain wildlife communities. To examine this relationship, we compared mammal and avian community assemblages, richness, and diversity across differing severities (low, medium, high) of elephant disturbed habitats (woodland, shrubland, and mixed wood/shrubland) within Rukinga Wildlife Sanctuary (RWS) in south-eastern Kenya. From June–November 2022, we collected wildlife detection data via driving transects and surveyed EHD through observation of elephant tree damage. While EHD level did impact community assemblage, possibly through vegetation modification and/or increased habitat heterogeneity, EHD had no negative impacts on species richness and diversity in the three habitat types. In contrast to our IDH prediction, richness and diversity were highest in high EHD areas within shrubland habitat and showed no difference across EHD levels for the other two habitats. Overall, this study provides evidence that elephants in RWS are not disturbing habitats to an extent that negatively impacts sanctuary viability, and at least for shrub habitat appear to enhance it. Additionally, smaller wildlife habitats may be able to mitigate lasting elephant overpopulation damages through increased connectivity to other protected areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predicting how nature's contributions to people (NCP) vary spatially remains a challenge. For NCP provided by mobile species, it is unclear how predictions need to account for the influence of multiple habitat types that act as sources, sinks and potential distractors of the NCP‐providing species. Existing approaches that do not account for these effects may inaccurately predict outcomes in real landscapes. To move beyond these limitations, we transfer quantitative inference approaches from movement ecology to explore how spatial habitat patterns determine the negative NCP of the invasive common brushtail possum Trichosurus vulpecula in New Zealand. We used a Bayesian model to investigate how the size of, and distance from, grassland and indigenous and exotic forest patches together contribute to relative possum density (measured by capture probability across a trapping network) in a heterogeneous 11,000‐ha landscape. We found that indigenous and exotic forest area were the most important factors in determining possum density. Although capture probability declined with increasing grassland area, the addition of grassland did not improve the relative model fit above one with indigenous forest as the only habitat. We expected differences in predicted possum density at habitat boundaries, for example, due to preferential foraging at edges. We found that indigenous and exotic forests contributed to capture probability interactively, such that capture probability at the between‐habitat edge was lower than expected, given the habitat area. We also found that models allowing for non‐linear habitat effects of exotic forests or grasslands, but not indigenous forests, were significantly better at predicting possum density than simpler models. Synthesis and applications. Our novel approach for spatial prediction can be applied to any of nature's contributions to people (NCP), and extended to identify trade‐offs and synergies among multiple NCP. For example, the negative NCP of possum density trades off with multiple known positive NCP from indigenous forests, including culturally significant non‐material NCP, and material NCP produced by exotic forests. We recommend that landscape management plans to maximise these positive NCP in future scenarios also consider how the risk of possum density may dampen net NCP provision. To minimise this negative NCP, our results support trap deployment in both indigenous and exotic forest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper included the diversity and distribution of collembolan fauna in Jharkhand. A checklist of collembolan fauna from Jharkhand has been formulated. Endemic species from Jharkhand have also been reported. Affinities between species and habitat as well as another species of Collembola is basic character for diversity as well as distribution. Different types of methodologies have been deployed for collection from distinctive habitats. Climatic conditions are the limiting factor for species distribution and endemism. Lepidocyrtus is the most diverse and distributed genus. Isotomurus is the highest endemic genus. Some collembolan fauna from Jharkhand are prevailing only in this state while some are distributed in different biogeographic zone in world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A survey of Lepidoptera was conducted in habitats including forest trails, nullah, forest gap, and small water bodies, in and around the Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve (USTR) and agroforest habitats at Nagri block in Dhamtari district of Chhattisgarh State between January 2020 and August 2022. The study recorded 95 species belonging to 69 genera. Erionota torus and Rathinda amor although common in the Indian mainland, were not documented by previous researchers. This indicates the necessity for a more thorough survey of Lepidoptera in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field surveys on large centipedes of Nui Chua National Park, south-central part of Vietnam, were conducted in September 2023 and February 2024. As a result, a total of 12 species/subspecies belonging to five genera and two families of the order Scolopendromorpha were recorded. Of two families, Scolopendridae has nine species in four genera, while Cryptopidae has only two species in one genus. In addition, the distribution pattern of the large centipedes is discussed based on the season (rainy versus dry), altitudes, and different habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Plant communities are complex systems shaped by a combination of deterministic and stochastic ecological processes. Bryophytes are an essential component of plant diversity in natural ecosystems, yet our understanding of their community ecology needs to catch up to that of other organisms. The unique geological history, alpine climatic conditions, and high habitat heterogeneity of Tibet provide suitable areas for bryophytes to survive in the alpine regions. Therefore, field surveys were conducted across 184 plots in forest, thicket, and herbaceous vegetation of Tibet to investigate the role of deterministic processes such as biological interactions and abiotic effects, along with stochastic processes, in shaping the distribution of bryophyte assemblages. We employed various analytical methods, including mixed effects models, partial least squares path modeling, null model analysis, and neutral community models. The study showed that bryophyte richness was highest in forests. Bryophyte assemblages showed greater segregation in forest and thicket environments compared to herbaceous vegetation. As the influence of stochastic processes increased, that of deterministic processes decreased from forests through thickets to herbaceous vegetation. Deterministic processes were the main driving forces for the bryophyte assemblage pattern. Soil properties and climatic factors, particularly pH played a key role in determining bryophyte patterns in Tibet. This study has deepened our comprehension of how deterministic and stochastic ecological processes interplay and shape bryophyte distribution patterns in Tibet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding species distribution and habitat preferences is crucial for effective conservation strategies. However, the lack of information about population responses to environmental change at different scales hinders effective conservation measures. In this study, we estimate the potential and realized distribution of Atractus lasallei, a semi-fossorial snake endemic to the northwestern region of Colombia. We modelled the potential distribution of A. lasallei based on ecological niche theory (using maxent), and habitat use was characterized while accounting for imperfect detection using a single-season occupancy model. Our results suggest that A. lasallei selects areas characterized by slopes below 10°, with high average annual precipitation (>2500mm/year) and herbaceous and shrubby vegetation. Its potential distribution encompasses the northern Central Cordillera and two smaller centers along the Western Cordillera, but its habitat is heavily fragmented within this potential distribution. When the two models are combined, the species' realized distribution sums up to 935 km2, highlighting its vulnerability. We recommend approaches that focus on variability at different spatio-temporal scales to better comprehend the variables that affect species' ranges and identify threats to vulnerable species. Prompt actions are needed to protect herbaceous and shrub vegetation in this region, highly demanded for agriculture and cattle grazing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Across the world's oceans, our knowledge of the habitats on the seabed is limited. Increasingly, video/imagery data from remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROVs) and towed and drop cameras, deployed from vessels, are providing critical new information to map unexplored benthic (seabed) habitats. However, these vessel-based surveys involve considerable time and personnel, are costly, require favorable weather conditions, and are difficult to conduct in remote, offshore, and deep marine habitats, which makes mapping and surveying large areas of the benthos challenging. In this study, we present a novel and efficient method for mapping diverse benthic habitats on the continental shelf, using animal-borne video and movement data from a benthic predator, the Australian sea lion (Neophoca cinerea). Six benthic habitats (between 5-110m depth) were identified from data collected by eight Australian sea lions from two colonies in South Australia. These habitats were macroalgae reef, macroalgae meadow, bare sand, sponge/sand, invertebrate reef and invertebrate boulder habitats. Percent cover of benthic habitats differed on the foraging paths of sea lions from both colonies. The distributions of these benthic habitats were combined with oceanographic data to build Random Forest models for predicting benthic habitats on the continental shelf. Random forest models performed well (validated models had a >98% accuracy), predicting large areas of macroalgae reef, bare sand, sponge/sand and invertebrate reef habitats on the continental shelf in southern Australia. Modelling of benthic habitats from animal-borne video data provides an effective approach for mapping extensive areas of the continental shelf. These data provide valuable new information on the seabed and complement traditional methods of mapping and surveying benthic habitats. Better understanding and preserving these habitats is crucial, amid increasing human impacts on benthic environments around the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habitat loss is a primary driver of global biodiversity decline, negatively impacting many species, including native bees. One approach to counteract the consequences of habitat loss is through restoration, which includes the transformation of degraded or damaged habitats to increase biodiversity. In this review, we survey bee habitat restoration literature over the last 14 years to provide insights into how best to promote bee diversity and abundance through the restoration of natural landscapes in North America. We highlight relevant questions and concepts to consider throughout the various stages of habitat restoration projects, categorizing them into pre-, during-, and post-restoration stages. We emphasize the importance of planning speciesand site-specific strategies to support bees, including providing floral and non-floral resources and increasing nest site availability. Lastly, we underscore the significance of conducting evaluations and long-term monitoring following restoration efforts. By identifying effective restoration methods, success indicators, and areas for future research, our review presents a comprehensive framework that can guide land managers during this urgent time for bee habitat restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is one of the major drivers of biodiversity loss. Among vertebrates, amphibians are one of the more sensitive groups to climate change due to their unique ecology, habitat requirements, narrow thermal tolerance and relatively limited dispersal abilities. We projected the influence of climate change on an endemic toad, Malabar Tree Toad (Pedostibes tuberculosus; hereafter MTT) from the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot, India, for two different shared socio-economic pathways (SSP) using multiple modeling approaches for current and future (2061–2080) scenarios. The data used predominantly comes from a citizen science program, 'Mapping Malabar Tree Toad' which is a part of the Frog Watch citizen science program, India Biodiversity Portal. We also evaluated the availability of suitable habitats for the MTT in Protected Areas (PAs) under the current and future scenarios. Our results show that annual precipitation was the most important bioclimatic variable influencing the distribution of MTT. We used MaxEnt (MEM) and Ensemble (ESM) modeling algorithms. The predicted distribution of MTT with selected environmental layers using MEM was 4556.95 km2 while using ESM was 18,563.76 km2. Overlaying PA boundaries on predicted distribution showed 37 PAs with 32.7% (1491.37 km2) and 44 PAs with 21.9% (4066.25 km2) coverage for MEM and ESM respectively. Among eight future climate scenarios, scenarios with high emissions showed a decreased distribution range from 33.5 to 68.7% of predicted distribution in PAs, while scenarios with low emissions showed an increased distribution range from 1.9 to 111.3% in PAs. PAs from the Central Western Ghats lose most suitable areas with a shift of suitable habitats towards the Southern Western Ghats. This suggests that MTT distribution may be restricted in the future and existing PAs may not be sufficient to conserve their habitats. Restricted and discontinuous distribution along with climate change can limit the dispersal and persistence of MTT populations, thus enhanced surveys of MTT habitats within and outside the PAs of the Western Ghats are an important step in safeguarding the persistence of MTT populations. Overall, our results demonstrate the use of citizen science data and its potential in modeling and understanding the geographic distribution and the calling phenology of an elusive, arboreal, and endemic amphibian species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a growing contention in the Housing Justice movement from activists, theorists, and politicians that not only should everyone have enough housing, but there is something wrong with having too much of it. This paper provides a framework to articulate and defend efforts to create housing wealth ceilings. Building on the work of Ingrid Robeyns, it develops the moral and political doctrine of housing limitarianism. This doctrine asserts it is morally wrong to have too much housing while others, human or animal, do not have enough, and that governments ought to limit the excessive acquisition/consumption of housing by individuals and corporations. I employ the Rawlsian ideal of property-owning democracy to argue for the dispersal of homeownership throughout society. Lastly, I discuss how housing justice can ethically negotiate the apparent conflict between increasing the supply of affordable housing and the preservation of natural habitat for wildlife. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Chinese government has introduced a carbon neutral policy to cope with the rapid changes in the global climate. It is not clear what impact this policy will have on wildlife. Therefore, this study analyzed the suitable habitat distribution of China's unique leopard subspecies in northern Shaanxi, and simulated the potential suitable habitat distribution under different carbon emission scenarios at two time points of future carbon peak and carbon neutralization. We found that in the future SSPs 126 scenario, the suitable habitat area and the number of suitable habitat patches of North China leopard will continue to increase. With the increase of carbon emissions, it is expected that the suitable habitat of North China leopard will continue to be fragmented and shifted. When the annual average temperature is lower than 8 °C, the precipitation seasonality is 80–90 mm and the precipitation of the warmest quarter is greater than 260 mm, the probability of occurrence of North China leopard is higher. The increase in carbon emissions will lead to the reduction, migration, and fragmentation of the suitable habitat distribution of the North China leopard. Carbon neutrality policies can protect suitable wild habitats. In the future, the impact of carbon neutrality policies on future wildlife habitat protection should be carried out in depth to effectively promote the construction of wildlife protection projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In large and stratified lakes, substantial methane stocks are often observed within the metalimnion. The origin of the methane (CH4) accumulated in the metalimnion during stratification, which can sustain significant emissions during convective mixing, is still widely debated. While commonly attributed to the transport of methane produced anaerobically ex situ, recent evidence suggests that oxic in situ methane production could also contribute to metalimnetic methane peaks. Here, we assessed the origin, that is, pelagic CH4 production or transport of sublittoral CH4 through the interflow, of metalimnetic methane in Lake Geneva, the largest lake in Western Europe. Microbial diversity data do not support the hypothesis of oxic methane production in the metalimnion. In contrast, both spatial and temporal surveys of methane show that maxima occur at depths and sites most affected by the Rhône River inflow. Methane δ13C values point to an anaerobic sublittoral methane source, within a biogeochemical hotspot close to the river delta region, and an efficient transport across several kilometers in a vertically well‐constrained metalimnion. Our current findings emphasize the indirect role of river interflows for the long‐range transport of CH4 produced in sediment biogeochemical hotspots, even for large lakes where sublittoral habitats represent a fairly limited fraction of the lake volume. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is an editorial that discusses the development and ecological functions of biological soil crusts (biocrusts). Biocrusts are composed of microorganisms and play important roles in soil stabilization, microbial diversity, and ecosystem development. The editorial emphasizes the need for further research on biocrust communities and their impact on landscape-scale outcomes. It also highlights the ecological functions of biocrusts, such as reducing erosion and influencing biogeochemical cycles. The article concludes by discussing the importance of understanding biocrusts for ecological restoration and land management strategies. Another document provides a list of references for articles related to biological soil crusts, covering topics such as land degradation neutrality, ecological restoration, and the impact of biocrusts on microbial communities. The articles also explore the composition and response of biocrusts to climate change and physical disturbance, as well as their effects on soil properties and metabolic response to hydration. [Extracted from the article]

Introduction: Mangroves are an important component of coastal ecosystems, and determining the spatial dispersion of prevalent mangrove species and the most suitable land-use source for mangrove growth is of great importance for judicious restoration and effective conservation approaches. Maximum entropy (MaxEnt) models are well suited for this task; however, the default parameterization such models for distribution prediction has limitations and may produce results with low accuracy, requiring elucidation of useful parameter settings. Further, a focus on predicting only the mangrove distribution is insufficient for mangrove restoration, and clarification of suitable habitats is required. Here, we examined the geographical distribution of six mangrove species in Beihai, China (Aricennia marina, Aegiceras corniculatum, Kandelia obovata, Rhizophora stylosa, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, and Acanthus ilicifolius). Methods: We used the ENMTools tool to select 16 variables from environmental factors, including bioclimate, terrain, sediment type, land-use classification, and sea-surface salinity and temperature. Using the selected variables and mangrove distribution data, a MaxEnt model optimized using the "kuenm" package in R was used to establish a mangrove prediction distribution model for Beihai City. Transition analyses of land-use types within suitable zones further clarified their current and potential functional roles. Results and discussion: The spatial occurrences of A. marina, A. corniculatum, and K. obovata were strongly driven by topographical features, those of R. stylosa and B. gymnorrhiza mostly depended on bioclimatic variables, and that of A. ilicifolius was driven mostly by edaphic conditions, notably the substrate type. The predicted optimal suitable area for mangrove growth in Beihai City was 50.76km2, of which 55.04% are currently officially protected. Unprotected areas suitable for mangrove growth were mainly located in Lianzhou Bay, Tieshangang Bay, Dafengjiang, and Xicun Port. The majority of these regions were derived from land-use transitions from wetlands and aquaculture ponds to forested ecosystems. We suggest that careful development of selected wetland ecosystems and transmutation of aquaculture ponds into forested landscapes are crucial for effective mangrove restoration. Our results will assist in selecting suitable species for mangrove restoration sites and improving mangrove restoration efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The radical interactionist (RI) perspective is based on three root images: (1) collective act, (2) the self, and (3) social habitat. Considerable attention has already been devoted to all these root images, except for the self, which is still in need of exposition. During this exposition of the self, its basic operating components are not only explained, but also contrasted with those examined from a traditional symbolic interactionist (SI) perspective. It is concluded that the idea of the self as conceived from the newer perspective of RI surpasses the view of the self from the much older SI perspective; the RI conception of the self offers a more consistent and less confounding explanation of its basic operational components, phylogenesis, and ontogenesis. Unlike this SI view of the self, which operates on the principle of sociality, the RI view, which operates on the principle of domination, accomplishes this explanation without succumbing to romantic idealism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Restoration engineering measures, such as managed realignments or building groins, modify the environmental characteristics of coastal intertidal ecosystems. Creating physical modifications that are beneficial to an intertidal system's ecology necessitates an in‐depth understanding of the relationships between the abiotic and biotic components of a given intertidal habitat. In this study, we evaluate how hydrodynamics and sediment characteristics drive the development of the benthic macrofauna community during the first 5 years following engineering measures to enhance benthic macrofauna diversity at three locations. The creation of low‐energy habitats through groins (Knuitershoek and Baalhoek) and a managed realignment dike breach (Perkpolder) led to the accumulation of fine sediments in all three impact sites. Biomass of benthic macrofauna quickly increased between 2016 and 2020, with successional processes being more important in Perkpolder, where the habitat was started completely from scratch due to a managed realignment, than at Knuitershoek or Baalhoek, where habitat conditions were improved by adding groins. In addition, the density of benthos‐eating birds, especially oystercatchers, increased at some of the modified sites. While a low‐energy habitat may harbor more diverse assemblages of benthic macrofauna than a highly dynamic one, the extremely high silt content, which is typical for low‐energy habitats, may slow benthic community development. The observed increase of biomass at our impact sites highlights the value of the interventions, while the delays in the response of the benthic macrofauna community emphasizes the need for extensive monitoring both in time and space and the identification of underlying abiotic–biotic mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we are concerned with the propagation dynamics of a nonlocal dispersal predator–prey model with one predator and two preys. Accurately, we mainly study the invading phenomenon of an alien predator to the habitat of two aborigine preys, which is depicted by traveling waves connecting the predator-free state to the co-existence state. We characterize the minimal wave speed of this invading process based on an application of Schauder’s fixed point theorem with the help of generalized upper-lower solutions and the Lyapunov argument. Particularly, the discussion of traveling waves with critical wave speed is more involved due to the effect of nonlocal dispersal. Finally, a numerical simulation is given to present the traveling waves and shows the differences between non-local and local dispersals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we study the invasion dynamics of a stage-structured population located in a one-dimensional periodic lattice. With a biologically relevant hypothesis that the population diffuses in its immature stage, we derive a novel spatially heterogeneous population model with coupled local and nonlocal effects. Assuming a KPP-type structure, we obtain the existence and variational characterization of spreading speed by appealing to monotone dynamical system theories. Further, we study the dependence of the spreading speed on the dispersal rate of immature population; it turns out that there exists an optimal dispersal strategy to maximize the speed. Numerical simulations further suggest that such an optimal strategy is unique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aims to confirm the presence of freshwater turtles in the Reserva Ecológica Ciudad Universitaria-Costanera Norte, to assess whether there are monthly variations in the relative abundance of any of the observed species and to study their behavior and habitat use. We conducted weekly observations from October 2022 to June 2023 at four sites in the wetland (HI1, HI2, HI3 and HC), between 12:00 and 16:00 h. The observed turtles were identified and categorized based on behavior as resting, displacing and feeding. Variations in relative abundance were analyzed per site using the Kruskal-Wallis test, applying BenjaminiHochberg post-hoc contrasts when differences were found between months. We detected the presence of Phrynops hilarii, Trachemys dorbigni and Hydromedusa tectifera, with P. hilarii being the most abundant and frequent. No significant relative abundance differences were found for P. hilarii between months in HI2 (χ² =13.78; P=0.088) and HI3 (χ² =7.28; P=0.507). However, there was a higher relative abundance in December compared to May (z=-3.17; P.adj=0.028) and April (z=-3.17; P.adj=0.028) in HI1, and in October than November (z=-2.99; P.adj=0.017), December (z=-2.99; P.adj=0.017), January (z=-2.99; P.adj=0.017), February (z=-2.99; P.adj=0.017), March (z=-2.99; P.adj=0.017) and June (z=-2.99; P.adj=0.017) for HC. Resting and displacement behaviors were observed at all four sites, while feeding behavior was only observed in HI2 and HI3. We defined resting areas in HI1 and HC, resting and feeding areas in HI2 and HI3 and transit areas in HI1, HI2 and HI3. We propose management measures to ensure the conservation of turtles in the reserve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work constitutes the second part of the one carried out in 2021, whose objective was the analysis of the main problems, derived from unplanned urban expansion, that increase the degrees of socio-environmental vulnerability in popular sectors. For this, a matrix was developed considering three dimensions: environmental, spatial-functional, and social. From this matrix, some popular neighborhoods in the city of La Plata were selected, which required more immediate interventions. Within this framework, the objective of this article is to analyze and evaluate the interventions and management instruments carried out in the selected cases, which contributed to promoting comprehensive territorial management. The methodology is based on making the initial analysis matrix more complex, incorporating actions that constitute an alternative to reduce the vulnerability situation of the popular neighborhoods of La Plata. The first results reflect that some of the aforementioned sectors studied have had initiatives to reduce the situation of vulnerability in which they find themselves. However, the general situation in relation to the intervention for improvements in the habitat of the popular sectors, is far from being a comprehensive territorial management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As natural habitats decline and wildlife adapts to increasing anthropogenic disturbance, it is crucial to understand humanwildlife relationships in residential areas. However, relevant studies are limited and mostly focused on single cities. To address this knowledge gap, we investigated people's preferences for seeing wild mammals in residential areas by conducting and analyzing an online survey distributed across Germany (n = 2997 participants). Our results revealed that preferred species (squirrels, hedgehogs, hares, roe deer) were frequently encountered, whereas unpreferred species were those encountered frequently (rats, martens), as well as those encountered rarely (wild boar, coypus, raccoons). We also found a moderately positive correlation between the number of encounters with mammals and them being preferred by humans. Finally, some socio-demographic variables, particularly gender, garden access, and urbanity, are significantly related to human preferences. Based on our results, we propose tailoring wildlife management in residential areas to promote the positive attributes of preferred wildlife as biodiversity ambassadors, while also addressing ways to mitigate encounters and negative perceptions associated with unpreferred species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]