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The climb of Gasherbrum IV's (7,925 m) 'Shining Wall' in 1985 by Voytek Kurtyka and Robert Schauer is considered one of the greatest mountaineering achievements in the twentieth century, even though the two climbers did not reach the summit. The article explores three ways of understanding mountaineering without the objective of reaching the summit. I start with a game-playing approach and then a view on mountaineering that takes its inspiration from deep ecology and argue that while both have the potential for explaining important aspects of mountaineering, neither will fully account for the value of climbing mountains without summiting. Finally, I argue that we can supplement either of these two views with a radically different way of understanding mountaineering, which involves creating and appreciating a work of art. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanical constraints are one factor that shapes organisms' behavior and morphology. Therefore, elucidating these biomechanics is essential for discovering unknown functions of organisms. The cephalofoil of hammerhead sharks (Sphyrnidae) has long been discussed as representative of the organism's unique morphology and function. While the physiological benefits of cephalofoil are becoming clearer, their kinematic function remains to be elucidated in some areas. Scalloped hammerheads (Sphyrna lewini) have been shown to receive significant hydrodynamic drag during straight swimming due to cephalofoil. In contrast, S. lewini is known to exhibit excellent turning ability, but the hydrodynamic effects of the cephalopod foil during turning have not been clarified. This study performed a numerical fluid dynamics analysis on a simplified 3D model of a cephalofoil to simulate its turning and swinging behavior. The results show that the cephalofoil shape reduces the moment from the fluid by reducing the separation of the flow during turning. The study also suggested that having a cephalofoil creates a trade-off between the efficiency of swimming straight and the ability to turn. This study contributes to our understanding of the function of the cephalofoil in hammerhead sharks and to a deeper understanding of their ecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under regimes of austerity, social movements´ transformative eco-politics may appear endangered. What kinds of environmentalism and radical imaginaries can unfold in social movements in crisis-ridden societies? I focus on the 'movement of the squares' during its post-encampment phase, with a case study of three urban projects of the Indignados movement in Barcelona. Observation of these projects reveals the importance of three common and intertwined radical imaginaries embodied in participants' social practices and orienting their future visions: the commons, autonomy, and ecologism. The ecologism imaginary cannot be properly understood if disembedded from the other two: the 'Indignant' projects constitute community structures re-embedding (re)production, jointly covering and generating needs differently, in response to the global capitalist forces that are threatening their social reproduction. Eco-politics can only be plausibly transformative if it is able to articulate a politics of intersectionality linking social reproduction with ecological interconnectedness and struggles against dispossessions and social injustice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article invites to an examination of Mary Hunter Austin’s biocentric approach to the desert in The Land of Little Rain, a non-fiction work that challenges anthropocentric views and reflects the author’s commitment to both ecological and cultural diversity. The article employs recent concepts such as the Anthropocene, deep ecology, ecofeminism and affective ecocriticism to explore the representation of the environment beyond a crisis narrative, the affective responses it evokes, the bonds between humans and non-humans, and the ecopedagogical import of this under-examined literary work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainability science researchers are increasingly interested in human–nature connection as a leverage point for societal transformation. Empathy has potential as a way to reconnect people to nature by building relationships among more-than-humans. However, current approaches to empathy with more-than-humans usually prefer sympathy and compassion. I argue that these approaches limit the potential of empathy when considering human–nature (re)connection. I use the established concept of social empathy (Segal 2011, 2018) to structure a new presentation of empathy with more-than-humans: ecological empathy. Ecological empathy, as presented in this paper, consists of two subcomponents: contextual understanding of more-than-human interdependencies and more-than-human awareness and earth system perspective-taking. From this new perspective, I suggest defining ecological empathy as a cognitive and affective ability, which allows for internal coherence across bodily separation in humans and their environment. Integrating literature from biophilia, deep ecology, embodied cognition and multi-species ethnography, I elaborate on ecological empathy with inspirational practices that can be advanced across a range of decision, policy and design environments to address human–nature (re)connection. Key policy highlights: Empathy has potential as a way to reconnect people to nature by building relationships among more-than-humans. Ecological empathy, as presented in this paper, consists of two subcomponents: contextual understanding of more-than-human interdependencies and more-than-human awareness and earthy system perspective-taking. Ecological empathy can be advanced across a range of decision, policy and design environments to address human–nature (re)connection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phylosymbiosis, the congruence of microbiome composition with host phylogeny, is a valuable framework for investigating plant–microbe associations and their evolutionary ecology. This review assesses the prevalence of phylosymbiosis across the plant kingdom, elucidates the fundamental ecological and evolutionary processes contributing to its occurrence based on previous research and explores commonly used methods for identifying phylosymbiosis. We find that the presence of phylosymbiosis may be influenced by both phylogenetic distance and the taxonomic level at which host plants are examined, with the strength of associations potentially decreasing as the taxonomic scale becomes finer. Notably, the endophytic microbiome exhibits a stronger phylosymbiosis signal compared with the epiphytic or rhizosphere-associated microbiomes. Microorganisms such as fungi and bacteria can yield highly variable evidence for phylosymbiosis due to differences in colonization, transmission or functional characteristics. We also outline how the four community assembly processes (dispersal, selection, diversification and drift) contribute to the establishment and maintenance of host–microbe phylosymbiosis. Furthermore, we highlight the diversity of methods employed to detect phylosymbiosis, which involves three key processes: constructing host phylogenies, assessing microbial data and statistically evaluating the correlation between host phylogeny and microbial composition. Remarkably different methodologies across studies make comparisons between findings challenging. To advance our understanding, future research is expected to explore phylosymbiosis at lower taxonomic levels and investigate different microbial communities coexisting synergistically within the same host. Understanding the relative importance of community assembly processes in driving phylosymbiosis will be critical for gaining deeper insights into the ecology and evolution of host–microbe interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a compelling and significant perspective on the urgent and transformative power of sustainability and Wilderness preservation, two paramount concerns of the 21st century, as vividly depicted in Edward Abbey's ecosophical fictional work The Monkey Wrench Gang (1975). It delves into the intriguing perspective of madness as a metaphor, symbolising the greed of American society induced by growth myths and calling for an eco-self and ecopsychology. The novel's strong call for an eco-self and ecopsychology underscores the need for personal and psychological change in the face of environmental crises. The book portrays the violent crimes of a gang against the life-threatening machines in defence of the wilderness under the leadership of wild lion-faced Hayduke, a Vietnam veteran diagnosed as a psychopath by the army, making capitalist crimes symbolised by the Mormon politician Bishop Love and the Grand Canyon Dam seeable. Although the Gang's violent actions seem to call for radical environmentalism, the novel reflects deep ecology or ecosophy, calling for an ecological self, Wilderness preservation, and diversity as self-care. This study reads The Monkey Wrench Gang and his autobiographical Desert Solitaire, with a conceptual tool-box made of R. D. Laing's "Mad Society," "economic metaphor," Michel Foucault's self-care, Harvey Cleckley's psychopath, Gilles Deleuze's nomadic thought, Homi Bhabha's hybridity, and Bhabha's the Third Space concepts. For Hybrid Hayduke, the "healthy" psychopath, destroying the Grand Canyon Dam is necessary for fixing the synonymous self and the earth. Ironically, the wild Gang, mirroring societal crime, wants to stop the vicious violence-crime cycle caused by civilisation's wild(er)ness idea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study critically examines the concept of eco-spirituality, exploring its intersection with spirituality and environmental concerns and its profound implications for contemporary society. The objective of this study is to systematically analyze the expanding literature on eco-spirituality and environmental behavior, highlighting key influencers, seminal works, and emerging trends to provide a comprehensive overview and suggest future research directions. Drawing from a synthesis of 138 studies, the research sheds light on the transformative role of eco-spirituality in facilitating the transition towards environmental sustainability. A comprehensive analysis of scholarly publications reveals notable trends in eco-spirituality research. Despite emerging in the early 1990s, scholarly attention remained limited until the 21st century, witnessing a significant surge post-2019, indicating growing recognition within academia. Publications predominantly originated from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, India, and Switzerland, reflecting global interest and engagement across diverse cultural landscapes. Key journals, including Religions, emerged as prominent platforms, underscoring the interdisciplinary nature of eco-spirituality research. The study underscores the interdisciplinary nature of eco-spirituality, transcending disciplinary boundaries to incorporate insights from environmental studies, theology, psychology, sociology, anthropology, and philosophy. The synthesis of 138 studies reveals eco-spirituality's pivotal role in promoting environmental sustainability, with notable trends in scholarly interest and global distribution of publications. Scholarly attention to eco-spirituality surged post-2019, resulting in 74 published articles, with 2021 marking the peak at 15 articles and the United States contributing 38 publications. This study underscores the interdisciplinary nature of eco-spirituality research and its potential to bridge theoretical insights with practical applications, urging inclusive approaches and further exploration beyond academia. This study contributes to meaningful societal change through environmental education, community engagement, and policy development. While acknowledging limitations such as database constraints and language bias, the study offers a nuanced understanding of the multifaceted impacts of eco-spirituality on individuals and communities. It prompts further inquiry into the dynamic relationship between spirituality, environmental ethics, and sustainable development. The study also underscores the significance of eco-spirituality as a catalyst for environmental consciousness and sustainable action. The innovation of the study is that it has revealed eco-spirituality's transformative role in promoting environmental sustainability and bridging interdisciplinary insights with practical applications. By synthesizing existing evidence and highlighting avenues for future research, it contributes to ongoing discussions on the role of spirituality in shaping human interactions with the natural world, ultimately empowering individuals and communities to enact meaningful change and promote a more harmonious relationship with the planet.

Trout-perch (Percopsis omiscomaycus) is an abundant, small-bodied, benthic fish species often found in deeper regions of large lake ecosystems. Historical evidence suggests that Trout-perch may participate in nearshore lake food webs by migrating from deep to shallow areas at night. However, little is known about Trout-perch ecology or their potential role in nearshore food webs. We used Trout-perch abundance estimates, diet analysis, and benthic invertebrate community surveys to (1) assess Trout-perch trophic ecology in Lake Champlain, USA/CAN, and (2) determine whether deepwater prey resources existed at sufficient densities to support Trout-perch populations or whether supplemental prey resources were required. Trout-perch showed variability in size and biomass across lake regions, but diet patterns were largely consistent across the lake, with > 50% of diets consisting of emergent insect larvae and oligochaetes. Results suggest that migrations into nearshore habitats may be required to sustain Lake Champlain's Trout-perch populations, and therefore, Trout-perch could function as conduits of allochthonous energy across distinct lake habitat boundaries. This study is one of only a few that have examined the trophic ecology of Trout-perch in deep lakes and fundamentally improves our understanding of energy flow and coupling between distinct lake food web compartments in large lakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parasites are widely known to afflict nearly all animal groups, including cephalopods, which host a diverse range of endo– and ectoparasites. These parasites, from protozoans to metazoans, can exert either detrimental or symbiotic effects on their cephalopod hosts. Within cephalopods lies a hidden biodiversity of parasites, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and other taxa such as Euglenozoa, Myzozoa, Microsporidia, Ciliophora, Dicyemids, Myxozoa, Trematoda, Cestoda, Nematoda, Acanthocephala, Annelida, and Crustacea. Among these, cestodes are the most prevalent group, often infesting a wide range of cephalopods, followed by dicyemids, which target renal organs. This distribution pattern observed globally shows Mediterranean Sea exhibiting the highest number of cases in terms of host–parasite interactions. Although global attention is given to cephalopod parasites, research on their presence and distribution in Indian waters remains limited, despite the rich marine ecosystems they inhabit. Most studies in this regard were conducted decades ago, with no recent updates on parasite progress. Hence, this compilation aims to shed light on the various facets of cephalopod parasites, emphasizing the need for further research and development in Indian waters to garner deeper insights into their ecology and potential implications for marine biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A key finding of recent scholarship on political violence is that environmentalists rarely, if ever, use lethal violence. Many scholars have argued that "ecoterrorism" is a misnomer for what is more accurately termed "ecotage." Large-n studies of environmental activism have identified only one apparent example of an environmentally motivated terrorist: the Unabomber, Ted Kaczynski. The Unabomber case is therefore a "crucial case" for evaluating the Peaceful Environmentalist Thesis—the generalization that environmentalists do not use lethal violence. Pioneering a forensic method of ideology analysis, this article uses previously unexamined archival material to assess the Unabomber's affinities with three environmental ideologies: radical environmentalism, green anarchism, and right-wing ecologism. It shows that the Unabomber's ideology is not environmentalist in intellectual origins or in conceptual structure, and that his motivations were anti-technological rather than pro-ecological. The Unabomber case demonstrates how ideology analysis can complement and strengthen research on political violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying genomic regions under selection is essential for understanding the genetic mechanisms driving species evolution and adaptation. Traditional methods often fall short in detecting complex, spatially varying selection signals. Recent advances in deep learning, however, present promising new approaches for uncovering subtle selection signals that traditional methods might miss. In this study, we utilized the deep learning framework DeepGenomeScan to detect spatially varying selection signatures across 15 bovine populations worldwide. Our analysis uncovered novel insights into selective sweep hotspots within the bovine genome, revealing key genes associated with physiological and adaptive traits that were previously undetected. We identified significant quantitative trait loci linked to milk protein and fat percentages. By comparing the selection signatures identified in this study with those reported in the Bovine Genome Variation Database, we discovered 38 novel genes under selection that were not identified through traditional methods. These genes are primarily associated with milk and meat yield and quality. Our findings enhance our understanding of spatially varying selection's impact on bovine genomic diversity, laying a foundation for future research in genetic improvement and conservation. This is the first deep learning-based study of selection signatures in cattle, offering new insights for evolutionary and livestock genomics research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study critically examines the concept of eco-spirituality, exploring its intersection with spirituality and environmental concerns and its profound implications for contemporary society. The objective of this study is to systematically analyze the expanding literature on eco-spirituality and environmental behavior, highlighting key influencers, seminal works, and emerging trends to provide a comprehensive overview and suggest future research directions. The study, based on a compilation of 138 studies, illuminates the significant impact of eco-spirituality in promoting the shift towards environmental sustainability. An in-depth examination of academic literature uncovers key patterns in the realm of eco-spirituality research. Despite emerging in the early 1990s, scholarly attention remained limited until the 21st century, witnessing a significant surge post-2019, indicating growing recognition within academia. Publications predominantly originated from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, India, and Switzerland, reflecting global interest and engagement across diverse cultural landscapes. Key journals, including Religions, emerged as prominent platforms, in highlighting the interdisciplinary nature of eco-spirituality research. The study underscores the interdisciplinary nature of eco-spirituality, transcending disciplinary boundaries to incorporate insights from environmental studies, theology, psychology, sociology, anthropology, and philosophy. The synthesis of 138 studies illustrates the crucial contribution of eco-spirituality towards enhancing environmental sustainability, showcasing prominent patterns in academic focus and international dissemination of findings. Scholarly attention to eco-spirituality surged post-2019, resulting in 74 published articles, with 2021 marking the peak at 15 articles and the United States contributing 38 publications. This study highlights the interdisciplinary character of eco-spirituality studies and its capacity to connect theoretical understandings with real-world implementations, advocating for inclusive methodologies and encouraging exploration beyond the confines of academia. This study contributes to meaningful societal change through environmental education, community engagement, and policy development. While acknowledging limitations such as database constraints and language bias, the study offers a nuanced understanding of the multifaceted impacts of eco-spirituality on individuals and communities. It encourages additional investigation into the interconnectedness of spirituality, environmental ethics, and sustainable development. Furthermore, it highlights the importance of eco-spirituality in fostering environmental awareness and promoting sustainable practices. The study's novelty lies in its revelation of how eco-spirituality plays a transformative role in advancing environmental sustainability and connecting diverse perspectives from different fields to real-world implementations. By synthesizing existing evidence and highlighting avenues for future research, it contributes to ongoing discussions on the role of spirituality in shaping human interactions with the natural world, ultimately empowering individuals and communities to enact meaningful change and promote a more harmonious relationship with the planet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Managing deep-sea mining is challenging due to limited data on species and habitat distribution, hindering decision-making. In less-explored polymetallic nodule sites in the Indian Ocean, management approaches are deemed unfeasible due to a substantial lack of data. In this study, we aim to bridge the knowledge gap through a detailed analysis of the macrobenthos (fauna > 300 µm) obtained with two sampling gears (multi- and box corer) in potential impact, preservation, and reference zones in the Central Indian Ocean Basin. In total, 337 individuals were categorized into 106 morphospecies and 18 higher taxa. The lowest abundance was reported in the box corer. Nematodes and copepods dominated the macrobenthos community, whereas polychaetes and tanaidaceans were the more prevalent macrofaunal taxa. Carbohydrates and total organic carbon showed a notable positive correlation with polychaetes, isopods, and bivalves, indicating their influence on larger-sized taxa. Various functional traits, i.e., less motile, discretely motile, biodiffusors, and upward/downward conveyers, were dominant in the study area. The comparative analysis of multi- and box corer sampling reveals distinct patterns in macrobenthic diversity, emphasizing the importance of employing both gears for accurate functional analysis. The paper underscores the significance of including large meiofaunal taxa in macrofauna analyses for assessing deep-sea ecosystem functioning and services. Additionally, the findings contribute significantly to environmental baseline and impact assessment, a crucial aspect of sustainable management in a highly promising polymetallic nodule mining area, aligning with the goals of exploring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article "Photographic exhibition of the artistic work of Maria Perdigão" highlights the individual exhibition of the artist Maria Perdigão, entitled "Cosmic Mountains: desire for a Deep Ecology". The exhibition took place at Ateliê Pluralistas, in Rio de Janeiro, and reflects the artist's trajectory, who seeks to create inspiring images of feminine presence and solidarity in a context of socio-environmental crisis. Maria Perdigão uses nature as inspiration and seeks to harmonize opposites, such as masculine and feminine, in her artworks. [Extracted from the article]

Recent years have seen a proliferation of "new materialist" scholarship claiming to challenge anthropocentrism and the human/nature divide. Although new materialism echoes several themes articulated by the main approaches to environmental ethics, there has thus far been relatively little engagement between them. To discern the potential contribution it can make to environmental thought, this paper puts new materialism into dialogue with one particular branch of environmental ethics: deep ecology. I show that new materialism appears vulnerable to philosophical problems that resemble certain critiques raised against deep ecology. First, they both homogenize all differences between beings and second, they undermine the ability to hold humans responsible for their actions. Despite the resemblance, I argue that new materialism is capable of addressing these critiques and moreover, that its notion of "agentic assemblages" provides a fruitful way to approach ecological problems that avoids the limitations of deep ecology's form of environmentalism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article seeks to re-read T.S. Eliot's "The Waste Land" (1922), keeping in mind the environmental overtones of "wilderness" as a concept. "Wilderness", according to William Cronon, is "the ultimate landscape of authenticity". The contemporary ecocritical discourse deems "wilderness" to be a valid modality of cognition. It is the most less-studied, the most unexplored and possibly, that is why, it is the most inscrutable. To try to figure out its meaning is just another attempt for knowing what is unknowable and defining what is indefinable. Thus, Eliot's "The Waste Land" does validate an unmitigated sense of baffling once seen from this more recent principle of "wilderness". The indices conventionally exploited by litterateurs to form a typically anthropocentric fictive world no longer hold good for "The Waste Land". Eliot's figures (both human and nonhuman) are either incommensurate with or inordinately resistant to human control, prediction and understanding. Borrowing the UK based environment writer Richard Mabey's words, we can sum up that Eliot's entities represent "the unmanaged energy of nature."1 It is in this "unmanaged energy of nature" that Eliot's "The Waste Land" makes some sense. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecocriticism, as a separate school of literary criticism, emerged during the 1970s to study the interconnection between literature and ecology from an interdisciplinary perspective. Deep ecology is one of the key concepts in ecocritical studies, advocated by the Norwegian philosopher Arne Naess, that foregrounds the promotion of ecological consciousness among the human community. The deep ecological principles also highlight the depletion of natural resources through excessive human interference and exploitative attitudes. This paper attempts to critically examine the deep ecological principles in Anuradha Roy's novel All the Lives We Never Lived (2018). Anuradha Roy is an Indian novelist, editor, and journalist, and her novels gained significance not only in India but also in several countries, making her one of the prominent voices of contemporary Indian Literature. This paper explores the need for humans to realise the inherent values of the non-human world and to promote harmonious coexistence with the environment by valuing the richness and diversity of life forms and utilising them only to satisfy their vital needs. It further examines the need for a decrease in population for non-human life to flourish and to reduce excessive human interference with the ecosystem. This paper reiterates the necessity to adhere to each deep ecological principle, accentuating the significant, transformative changes to be embraced to promote environmental responsibility for sustainable living. These aspects are elucidated through relevant instances from the chosen novel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Ecological life choices, influenced by the individual morality-driven reflection on nature, ecosophy, seems to be a perfect embodiment of Charles Taylor’s strong evaluations. The purpose of the following text is to establish the linkage between these two, seemingly entirely separate concepts, which have never before been brought side by side. The article portrays ecosophy as a possible part of the strong evaluations. It also indicates the relationship between the theoretical and practical dimension of the two concepts, which not only have the possibility of coexisting within the same person, but also mutually reinforce each other’s realizations. To explore the issue, I primarily used selected publications by the authors mentioned in the title: Arne Naess and Charles Taylor. It was the analysis of these works that led me to the thesis of the application of one term in the other and to the final conclusions and doubts. The latter, concerning, among other things, the differences in the understanding of particular words used by the two contemporary philosophers, will become a trigger for further consideration of the applications of strong evaluations. These doubts will also open the door to a discussion of ecosophy on a different ground than up until now.

We focus on a power analysis exercise used with undergraduate students to discuss the environmental, economic, and social crises as they are reflected in the conflict between the economy and the environment, and local resistance to mining industry development in a region of Northern Greece (Chalkidiki). A power analysis exercise is a tool, designed and used by (community) activist groups to help understand the terrain of struggle and the actors involved. The exercise was also combined with, and followed from a reflection by the students on their ideological/political position on a spectrum from free market to deep ecology. The power analysis exercise helped students engage with the critical content of the module, understand how the different approaches/positions of sustainable development can manifest themselves, what their implications are, go beyond the academic lingo and reflect on how these issues impact our lives, rethink their positioning beyond the customer/manager dominant position. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cavernicolous populations of the spider wasp Ageniella evansi Townes, 1957 (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae) nest deep within limestone caves at Colossal Cave Mountain Park near Tucson, Arizona, USA. These remarkable populations are the only truly cavernicolous pompilid wasps currently known. As many as 79 females were documented nesting simultaneously within Arkenstone Cave. The facts that the wasps do not nest near cave entrances but only deep within the interior of the caves, are philopatric to each occupied cave and have been present each year for decades confirm their cavernicolous behaviour as subtroglophiles. Studies conducted for over 30 years revealed many insights into the behaviour of these wasps in addition to their nesting deep within limestone caves, including: intraspecific and interspecific competition, plasticity in host selection, precision solar navigation, evidence that some form of communal nesting may be present and behaviour suggestive of rudimentary cognition in the species. This study demonstrates the importance of assessing all animals found in caves as potential ecological elements and not focusing solely on exotic troglobiotic species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

American right-wing extremists have rarely explicitly stated environmental policies. However, they have exhibited implicit environmentalism. It has resulted from a fusion of three factors: an intense distaste for cities; a belief in the supremacy of small social and governmental units; and the self-sufficiency known as survivalism. These result in a romantic nostalgia for an agrarian, pre-industrial past when current environmental problems did not exist. The most extreme extension of this mode of thinking is the radical right's belief in the creation of a 'white homeland' in the Pacific Northwest. Religion does not affect the character of the implicit environmentalism surveyed here but is evident in extremists' millenarian or utopian ideas about the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We live in a time of global environmental crisis. There is a depletion of non-renewable nature resources and irreversible destruction of Earth's ecosystems. Philosophy fighting against them penetrate our consciousness and are part of our everyday. There is a conflict of anthropocentric and biocentric perception of the world, which was developed on the basis of environmental accidents after the World War II. This change in thinking brings one to a new way of perceiving its surroundings andforcing him to act accordingly. Not only leads to the "back to nature", but further to the change in self-perception, a change of identity - to identify with nature, which is also called Deep Ecology. This identity of ecologist - identification with nature itself - may seem unusual. However, it doesn't have hazards. If it stays in the dimensions of ethical rules, may be the environmental benefit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Lianas are a central component of tropical forests. However, how the type of climbing mechanisms is related to the functional and taxonomic diversity of lianas across the tropics, remains largely unresolved. Here, we tested two main hypotheses: (i) the functional diversity of lianas differs with climbing mechanism (active and passive) and (ii) the association between taxonomic diversity with contemporary climate, paleoclimate, forest structure and phylogeny differ between climbing mechanisms. Location: Tropical forests. Time Period: Present. Major Taxa Studied: Terrestrial plants. Methods: We assembled functional traits and the type of climbing mechanism for 702 liana species and used the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP v.2.0) to standardize species names, map geographical distribution and estimate taxonomic richness. We used kernel density n‐dimensional hypervolume to estimate the functional diversity of each type of climbing mechanism. We compared the environmental response of taxonomic richness of each type of climbing mechanism, active and passive, to the response of overall liana species richness. We assessed the magnitude and direction of the environmental response considering variables of climate, soil fertility and forest structure. Results: We found that active climbing exhibits a higher functional richness than passive climbing. Richness patterns of active and passive climbing mechanisms were mainly driven by contemporary climate, paleoclimate and phylogenetic relatedness. More importantly, paleoclimate was negatively associated with active climbing and positively associated with passive climbing. Main Conclusions: Our study highlights differences in functional diversity (richness, dispersion, evenness and originality) between active and passive climbing species, likely reflecting their distinct ecological strategies for resource use, stress tolerance and dispersal. Integrating taxonomic and functional diversity metrics with information about the type of climbing mechanism provides deeper insights into the ecology and response of lianas to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

I defend here Luc Ferry's new humanist approach to nature, ecomodernism, outlined in his Les Sept Ecologies (2021). Ferry's notion of a "second humanism" takes into account oversights in the Enlightenment thinking, now seen as abstracted from the real life-world of persons, in particular, and arising out of changed conditions of marriage, that of "love-passion" as core value. I first outline Ferry's account of the contemporary ecology landscape. Three anti-humanist approaches to nature are considered: the pre-modern supposition of intentionality in non-human living beings; deep ecology's attribution of an equal functionality to humans and non-humans in the ecosystem; and evolutionary biology's reductionist version of ethics. I then develop a positive account of the isomorphism of the intentionality of humans and all conscious living animals, through an Aristotelian account of sensation as a power of transcendence. The specific condition of human transcendence is reformulated by contemporary commentators through the notion of language, and again through the explanatory notion of self-enactment. This furnishes a foundation for the defence of the new humanist approach to nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite its pre-1968 epistemic ground receding further into history, vanguardism persists as an ecopolitical position, its hubris continuing to have a divisive effect on those agonistic collective strategies otherwise required to confront and surround neoliberal configurations - which themselves involve advanced mechanisms of corporate collaboration. Accordingly, in support of transversal ecopolitics, in what follows, contemporary ecopolitical vanguardism's historical-discursive bases in Murray Bookchin's social ecology and Joel Kovel's ecosocialism will be critically engaged with through archaeological and deconstructive means, and vis-à-vis deep ecology and ecofeminism that emerged alongside these two movements, but which remain orientated around the transversalism of a post-1968 episteme. In this regard, while Foucauldian and Derridean approaches will inform the ensuing discussion, Laclau and Mouffe's conception of radical democracy - as the extension of chains of equivalence between struggles to facilitate the formation of a left-wing hegemony based on dialogical engagement - will also comprise a key theoretical coordinate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relationship between literature and ecology has a long tradition. Scholars and researchers have often carried out studies to explore ecological concerns of the writers in literary texts. Nature is the source of our life. However, the mindless exploitation of the Earth for unlimited human needs is indeed a great threat to the planet as a whole. Humans should not think that they are the only creatures to live and dominate other biotic and ecological systems. Sustainable development can only bring peace to the environment and the humans though industrialization and modernization are also essential for a better society. Ecocriticism as a mode of study interprets the literary texts to explore the visions embedded in them. It draws on theoretical insights and precision of ethics, ecosophy, environmentalism, Anthropocene, Apocalypse, Deep ecology, and posthumanism for a worthwhile analysis and interpretation of literary texts. This paper is an effort to discuss a historical and conceptual understanding of ecocriticism, and how it can be a useful method of study of texts representing environmental issues. Ecocriticism is a tool for environmental discussion, designed to analyse the text's orientation both to the world it imagines and to the world in which it takes shape. As far as the question of environment and sustainability is concerned, literature raises a lot of issues to determine the ecological problems of our society due to the faults in our knowledge systems and the prevalent traditions. In this paper, we have referred to the ideas and arguments of William Rueckert, Greg Garrard, Rachel Carson, Stewart Lee Udall, Lawrence Buell, Donald Worster, Ursula K. Heise, Paul Crutzen, Arne Naess, Barry Commoner, Aldo Leopold Rosi Braidotti, Cary Wolfe, Jonathan Bate, Neil Carter, Cheryll Glotfelty, Paul W. Taylor and so on to work out a conceptual framework for fruitful interpretation of literary texts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In transformation research of late, accounts on the relation between intentionality and agency on the one hand, and the more routinised and structured side of social co-existence on the other, are increasingly nuanced. However, we observe a deficiency in the way arguments are set up by the interlocutors: both, scholars who grant intentionality a central role and those who emphasise its limitations generally do so at the level of ontology – debating degrees of human capacity for conscious planning versus a largely unconscious reproduction. We wish to shift this question from an ontological to a pedagogical one, exploring possibilities to cultivate and learn intentionality. We do so by developing the concept of consciousness-in-nature that we derive from, and contextualise in, the traditions of deep ecology and (Westernised) Buddhism which both view human beings as inseparable from nature and one another. With consciousness-in-nature we refer to an understanding of humans as a part of nature that has developed the capacity for (self-) reflection and deliberation – a capacity that is not static or firm but can be nurtured and cultivated or clouded over and subdued. From this standpoint, we lay out an understanding of the role of (re)learning consciousness for processes of social change and explore potentials for its nurturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The question addressed in this article is a possible new epistemological framework to find solutions to the current crisis. The analysis began with the idea of creation as a holistic concept. The problem discussed here is related to the relationship between transcendence and immanence. The discussion is based on the approach of Oneness or Unity of Being (wahdat al-wujūd) developed by Ibn ΄Arabī. This Sufi approach is supplemented by an outlook on modern scientific epistemologies. This article proposes a new epistemology based on the Oneness of Being, an outlook into the immanent thinking of the Deleuzian style, and modern scientific approaches, especially from advanced biology. Thus, this article attempts to overcome the problems arising from pre-modern thinking.

"Ecological by Design: A History from Scandinavia" by Kjetil Fallan explores the emergence of an ecological design culture in Sweden, Denmark, and Norway in the 1950s and 1960s. The book discusses the shift in furniture production towards sustainability and local materials, highlighting the environmental and social concerns that drove this change. Through thematic case studies and a wide-ranging geographical perspective, Fallan connects the development of ecological design to broader sustainability debates, making the book relevant to scholars in environmental history, technology, and sustainability studies. [Extracted from the article]

Copyright of Index: Revista de Arte Contemporaneo is the property of Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Ecuador and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction: The Covid-19 pandemic greatly affected various aspects of life. To prevent and control its spread, people are morally and legally obliged to wear face facemasks. The use of facemasks brings many waste problems. However, the Indonesian policy on facemask waste management does not regard the massive environmental consequences, as the amount of domestic facemask waste reaches hundreds of tons daily with limited management capacity application. Hence, this study aims to assess current issues and policies on facemask waste from the perspective of environmental ethics. Methods: This research used the juridical-normative method, where legal rules and principles were processed to address current issues, supported by literature sources. This research employed qualitative approach to collect and analyze data. Results: Results showed that there was a legal void which caused terrible facemask waste management in Indonesia. There was confusion in categorizing facemask waste, whether it is domestic or infectious waste, causing hazards in its management. From a deep ecology perspective, the applied facemask waste management was only beneficial for humans while completely neglecting biotic and abiotic components. To overcome this, several suggestions were: 1) categorizing domestic disposable facemask waste as hazardous waste, 2) applying sanctions for the violation of norms and tight social control on first-level management of facemask waste, and 3) using reusable facemask. Conclusion: The obligation of wearing facemasks that were protective for humans during the Covid-19 pandemic must be followed with policies regulating facemask waste management that consider the environment and its biotic and abiotic components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Humans seldom consider themselves as animals, and that humans are animals is a truth frequently turned into an insulting metaphor indicating "uncivilized" behavior in many cultures. Interestingly, the "civilizing" aspects of Western Culture in the Global North are historically derived from traditions of democracy based on living in cities from which the wild has been banished. This is embedded in the English language since civilizing and civilization come from the Latin for city, civitas, the place where citizens hold voting rights. Beyond the gates of civilization is the wild. How the wild and nature have been constructed and demarcated is an enormously complex and enduring challenge in western philosophy as it relates to knowledge-making, existence, truth, and reality. Indeed, whilst people generally believe they know what nature means, they rarely realize that little in nature is wild. Furthermore, the concept of uncertainty, central to the pandemic, is compounded by climate instability and a potentially disastrous future. This is breaking down what is known, requiring porous and flexible conceptual frontiers and a transdisciplinary approach. This article traces the linguistic separation of humans fromtheir animal origins and wilder environments for political and increasingly greedy economic purposes. It explores the acknowledged complexity of healthy human-nature interactions, juxtaposing information mainly from the humanities and social sciences. Demonstrating how unhealthy the current paradigm has proven to be for humans and the natural world, it brings together conflicting information to disrupt traditional certainties using an innovative bricolage methodology. It weaves and combines different ways of knowing as it considers forms of knowledge-making, rewilding, foraging, the place of magical thinking, and vital force. It concludes that a new paradigm is needed to enable a way of working toward any vision of healthy human-nature interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction by Bron Taylor sets the tone for the Journal for the Study of Religion, Nature, and Culture (JSRNC), emphasizing the necessity of self-reflection among scholars to counter confirmation biases, while also cautioning against the oversimplification and misinterpretation of arguments.

Copyright of Motif Academy Journal of Folklore is the property of Motif Yayincilik and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The application of graph theory to metacommunity ecology allows a deeper analysis of the effect of network structure on diversity patterns. Here, we set out to test the role of network centrality metrics and environmental characteristics in diversity patterns of pond macroinvertebrate metacommunities. We tested two approaches to construct the networks: one used the percolation distance, whereas the other was based on a community‐contingent distance. The role of each patch within the network was then analyzed using its centrality value. Later, we analyzed the relationships between the macroinvertebrate diversity and centrality metrics for four study sites. The calculated diversity metrics cover different facets of biodiversity at two scales: pond and pondscape. Environmental characteristics of the studied ponds were also included. All relationships were tested considering the entire macroinvertebrate dataset, but also differentiated by dispersal mode (i.e., active vs. passive) and considering the two types of network approaches analyzed. The results were mostly consistent when comparing the network approaches used. Centrality metrics tended to be positively related to alpha and negatively to beta diversity. Environmental uniqueness showed a positive effect on beta diversity metrics, regardless of the dispersal mode. We only observed a weak negative relationship between eutrophication and species richness of active dispersers. Pond size showed a positive effect on both alpha and beta diversity, but was detected more frequently on alpha diversity metrics. We could not find evidence for a clear negative effect of habitat degradation on diversity. We found a greater importance of environmental characteristics versus the centrality metrics for both alpha and beta diversity of active dispersers, while a combination of their contributions for passive dispersers. An unexpected importance of centrality was observed for alpha diversity of passive dispersers. Using empirical data, we demonstrate that the centrality of a patch in an undirected network affects diversity regardless of the approach used to construct the networks, with a higher influence at local scale regardless of the dispersal mode. This study broadens knowledge of the relationships between environmental features and network centrality, demonstrating the important role of centrality as a determinant of diversity in metacommunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between people and nature has always been a central theme in literature. Today, especially with environmental problems, it is important to look back at how literature has tackled this theme. Ecocriticism is a way to study literature that focuses on the environment. In other words, it is based on an ecological approach to literary studies and reveals that "human culture is connected to the physical world affecting it and affected by it" (Glotfelty xix). It shows that what we do as humans affects the natural world, and vice versa. This paper, "Nature's Echoes in The Overstory: An Ecocritical Perspective," looks at Richard Powers' The Overstory from an Ecocritical perspective. It breaks down and analyses the characters in this book using the ideas of deep ecology and shallow ecology. This paper also attempts to explore Pope Francis' concepts of 'ecological conversion' and 'integral ecology.' It looks at how the characters in the book go through an 'ecological conversion' that leads them to care about the environment, and how the concept of 'integral ecology' pushes them to connect with nature. Thus, this paper explores these key themes in the novel, showing how human actions seriously affect the natural world. It also talks about the possibility of making a big positive change to have a better relationship with the environment. The goal is to highlight the need for a more sustainable and respectful way of dealing with our planet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Nesir: Journal of Literary Studies / Edebiyat Araştırmaları Dergisi is the property of Nesir: Journal of Literary Studies and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Tracie Matysik's book, "When Spinoza Met Marx: Experiments in Nonhumanist Activity," explores the historical, philosophical, and political reception of Spinoza in the 19th century. Matysik examines the influence of Spinoza on various political philosophies, including Soviet Marxism, French Marxism, Italian workerism, and classical Spinoza scholarship. The book also delves into the impact of Spinoza on thinkers such as Heinrich Heine, Berthold Auerbach, Moses Hess, Karl Marx, and Georgi Plekhanov. Matysik argues that Spinoza's conception of democratic freedom and people's sovereignty resonated with progressive intellectuals in Germany, particularly during a time of radical revolutionary waves. The book concludes by discussing the contemporary ecological thinking that draws on Spinoza's philosophy. [Extracted from the article]