Search

Purpose: To study the adaptation of bacteria to the natural γ-background of mountains and anthropogenic emissions from nuclear power plants; to establish the main factors of variability and speciation of bacteria. Method: Analysis of materials on the radiation background and its impact on living organisms in the landscape of Armenia, calculation of the absorbed dose by microbes due to rock radiation. Results: The review shows the death, reproduction, radioresistance and speciation of bacteria in changing conditions of low variable natural and anthropogenic γ-background. Conclusion: We assume that γ-rays from rocks activate cellular epigenetic mechanisms that regulate genome expression, signaling and, ultimately, variability of bacteria. Some of them have already been studied, others require research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To develop a phytolith (biogenic silica) reference and to understand the eco-climatic indicative values of some grass silica short cells (GSSCs) occurring in the bamboos (Bambusoideae grasses), one of the chief floral components of eastern and north-eastern parts of India, we studied 44 modern bambusoid grasses and 26 surface soils from different eco-climatic zones covering both the plains and mountainous regions. Of the diverse phytoliths retrieved from the bamboos, Saddle tall and Saddle collapsed were the most abundant types (except in Yushania maling) and these types were also common in surface soil phytolith assemblages of the eastern and north-eastern parts of India. To assess the environmental sensitivity of most consistent morphotypes, we categorized two commonly occurring GSSC morphotypes namely S addle tall into three groups based on their length and S addle collapsed into two groups based on their length to width ratio respectively. Pearson's correlation analysis, principal component analysis (PCA), and redundancy analysis (RDA) were used to understand if these morphotypes could distinguish different eco-climatic conditions. Variability of S addle tall and S addle collapsed types (both morphometric and abundance) in bamboos growing in these parts of India is a function of mean precipitation of the wettest quarter (MPWeQ) and mean temperature of the driest quarter (MTDQ). The present results served as a baseline for reevaluating the interpretations of a Late-Holocene fossil phytolith record from the eastern Himalaya further validating the potential of S addle tall and S addle collapsed types in reconstructing past climate variability in a wide geographical region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cold ecosystems are experiencing a warming rate that is twice as fast as the global average and are particularly vulnerable to the consequences of climate change. In mountain ecosystems, it is particularly important to monitor vegetation to understand ecosystem dynamics, biodiversity conservation, and the resilience of these fragile ecosystems to global change. Hence, we used satellite data acquired by Sentinel-2 to perform a comparative assessment of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and the Plant Phenology Index (PPI) in mountainous regions (canton of Valais-Switzerland in the European Alps) for monitoring vegetation dynamics of four types: deciduous trees, coniferous trees, grasslands, and shrublands. Results indicate that the NDVI is particularly noisy in the seasonal cycle at the beginning/end of the snow season and for coniferous trees, which is consistent with its known snow sensitivity issue and difficulties in retrieving signal variation in dense and evergreen vegetation. The PPI seems to deal with these problems but tends to overestimate peak values, which could be attributed to its logarithmic formula and derived high sensitivity to variations in near-infrared (NIR) and red reflectance during the peak growing season. Concerning seasonal parameters retrieval, we find close concordance in the results for the start of season (SOS) and end of season (EOS) between indices, except for coniferous trees. Peak of season (POS) results exhibit important differences between the indices. Our findings suggest that PPI is a robust remote sensed index for vegetation monitoring in seasonal snow-covered and complex mountain environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the relationship between legal frameworks, mountain communities and the puma in Chile. Delving into the effects of how pumas’ lives have been reshaped by myriad factors (economy, the law, and global change), we address the question of how ‘killability’ is distributed in one Chilean basin where the species is endangered: the Maule. We pay attention to a three-level relationship that distributes and sets the rules around the right to maim and kill bodies, encompassing the state's, rancher's and puma's intrusions. We explore the distribution of the ‘killable’ as ongoing effects and actions cast upon bodies. These actions shape interspecies and life-death ecological relationships. We continue by deepening into the contextual vulnerability of human and non-human lives forced to compete, or set new agreements, to improve and rearrange state mandates, experiencing the symptoms of an environmental and political crisis in which they must either endure or perish. Finally, we address how the interplay between economy, conservationism and animal lives redistribute the value of, and grievability among, species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study unpacks the Buddhist assimilation of Namsan (South Mountain) in Kyŏngju through the creation and aggregation of Buddhist sculptures and structures on its slopes during the seventh to tenth centuries. Though steeped in native lore regarding nature deities and efficacious rocks, auspicious geological features such as Namsan were recast as part of a Buddhist landscape filled with manifestations of the Buddha and his attendants. These images served to demarcate claims of Buddhism's place in the peninsula and were situated within sites that were previously marked and claimed by indigenous systems of belief. Employing an approach that draws parallels with David Harvey's concept of urban environments as palimpsests, this paper reveals that Namsan was a multifaceted site, with military fortifications, temples, and rock-carved sculptures augmenting its spiritual and political significance. The repeated installation of Buddhist imagery 'recovered' the mountain, subsuming indigenous beliefs under Buddhist practices. This research finds that Namsan's landscape was purposefully layered, reflecting the dialectical relationship between various communities and their religious and social practices over time. Analyzing Namsan as a palimpsest underscores the strategic appropriation of the mountain's materiality and sacrality to establish a Buddhist territory deeply intertwined with the Silla elite's politics and ideologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Igneous geochemistry used to map paleoelevations of South America. • Maps for Cenozoic-present broadly agree with independent constraints. • Results identify areas for improvement in global paleoelevation models. Mountains and mountain ranges, often situated at convergent plate margins, play a pivotal role in many fields of the Earth, climate, and biological sciences. Reconstructing past episodes of mountain building from the geological rock record is one of the main challenges for unravelling the ancient physical geography of Earth's surface. Established methods for quantifying past elevations traditionally relied on sedimentary rocks, but in recent years, alternative approaches have emerged on the basis that geochemical signatures of magmatic rocks formed in convergent settings correlate with crustal thickness or elevation. Consequently, methods based on igneous samples have the potential to allow quantitative mapping of past topographic change for large spans of space and time where existing maps are largely based on a qualitative approach. Here, we investigate the application of paleoelevation estimates derived from geochemistry using the western margin of South America as a case study. We investigate their consistency with independent indicators of past elevations such as stratigraphy, stable isotopes, fossils etc. for Cenozoic samples along the Andean margin. For older times, we compare the estimated paleoelevations with more general aspects of the geological record, as well as paleoelevations from global paleogeography models widely used in climate modelling studies, to evaluate the extent to which these models are consistent with the igneous geochemical proxies. We find that estimates based on multiple geochemical proxies, and which account for variations in elevation as a function of MgO, are preferable to those based on individual proxies. The multi-mohometer estimates yield estimates of elevation that better match both present-day topography and Cenozoic paleoelevations, and retain more samples during the data filtering stage. In deeper time, we show that igneous geochemistry quantifies changes in elevation related to documented phases of crustal thickening and thinning, and is thus likely to allow improvements to existing maps of paleotopography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhodiola linearifolia Boriss., a perennial alpine plant from the Crassulaceae family, is renowned for its unique medicinal properties. However, existing research on this species is limited, particularly regarding the impact of altitude on its physiological and medicinal compounds. The current study employed morphophysiological and anatomical methods to explore the adaptive mechanisms of R. linearifolia across different altitudinal gradients, while also examining photosynthetic pigments and metabolomic changes. Our results indicate that despite the simultaneous effects of various mountain abiotic factors, significant correlations can be identified between altitude and trait variation. An optimal growth altitude of 2687 m above sea level was identified, which is pivotal for sustainable ecosystem management and potential species introduction strategies. It is noted that increasing altitude stress enhances the synthesis of secondary antioxidant metabolites in R. linearifolia, enhancing its pharmaceutical potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ch'oe Namsŏn was a key figure in the introduction of geography into the print media culture of early twentieth-century Chosŏn. Ch'oe used geography as a tool, creating a new territorial consciousness for national cohesion, and this article explores how this greatly shaped his poetic landscape. Locating itself between the boundaries of literary studies and cultural geography, this work looks at Ch'oe's underexplored T'aebaek poetry, in which his interests in geography, history, and national identity significantly converge. Drawing on "Mount Taebaek" of Korea's past, Ch'oe fashions the mountain into a pseudo-religious icon of nationhood. A symbolic landscape, evocative of a uniquely Korean past yet rising as a global icon going into a modern world, Ch'oe's poetry creates a godlike figure for the Korean people to look to in a changing time of imperialism, nationalism, and modern progress. Through various iterations of T'aebaek—benevolent deity, bringer of modernity, omnipotent ruler of the world—one sees the mountain play a vital role in the shaping of Ch'oe's nationalist project, which would have continued influence on his writings later in life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) expansion in subalpine and alpine ecosystems is increasing due to climate change and reduced land management. This review examines bilberry traits, environmental responses, and ecosystem impacts. As a stress-tolerant chamaephyte, bilberry thrives in acidic, nutrient-poor soils across various habitats. It propagates effectively through rhizomes and demonstrates a phalanx growth form. Bilberry's growth and distribution are influenced by elevation, soil structure, pH, water availability, and nitrogen content. Mycorrhizal associations play a crucial role in nutrient uptake. The species modifies the microclimate, facilitates litter accumulation, and influences soil microbial communities, affecting nutrient turnover and biodiversity. Bilberry shows moderate tolerance to herbivory and frost, with the ability to recover through rapid emergence of new ramets. However, severe or repeated disturbances can significantly impact its abundance and reproductive success. Climate warming and atmospheric nitrogen deposition have accelerated bilberry growth in treeline ecotones. The management of bilberry expansion requires a nuanced approach, considering its resilience, historical land-use changes, and environmental factors. The goal should be to limit, not eliminate, bilberry, as it is a natural part of subalpine communities. Long-term comparative monitoring and experimental manipulation are necessary for effective management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines poverty and inequality in Pakistan's mountains, using nationally representative data. Our analysis reveals that, despite a slight decline in poverty rates, overall rates remain alarmingly high, with significant variations across provinces and regions. Rural and mountain areas exhibit higher poverty rates (31% in rural areas, 13% in urban areas in 2015/16) compared to urban centers. The national incidence of multidimensional poverty in 2014/15 was 41%, surpassing monetary poverty rates. Notably, rural areas (47%) experienced significantly higher multidimensional poverty than urban centers (12%), with Balochistan's mountainous province recording the highest rates (63%). The four provinces display significant heterogeneity in multidimensional poverty, with district-level variations ranging from 10 to 90% in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. The majority of districts with high poverty incidence are situated in mountainous regions, where people face multidimensional challenges in accessing basic facilities such as health and education, cooking fuel, and housing. To address this issue, Pakistan needs to prioritize mountain areas and implement targeted programs aimed at improving access to basic services, addressing gender inequalities, and promoting sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mountain landscapes and communities are highly sensitive and vulnerable to climate change. Tourism in mountain regions is highly dependent on natural resources and attractions which are very sensitive to climatic changes. This systematic review analyzing 276 papers, provides a comprehensive analysis of scientific literature dealing with climate change impacts on mountain tourism. While the impacts on the snow season are predominantly negative, impacts to summer season activities range from positive to negative. Contradictory results and lack of research in some regions and tourism activities means the overall impact is far from clear. We identified seven key knowledge gaps: underrepresentation of studies for South America and Africa, lack of appropriate data and indicators, an all-season perspective and investigation of opportunities, economic and socio-political consequences for mountain communities, the need for better science communication, and a lack of studies addressing liability and regulatory risks. Increasing our multidisciplinary understanding of potential climate impacts on mountain tourism and engaging stakeholders to prepare for the projected changes will help local populations in mountain communities create applicable and effective climate adaptation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We summarize the published data on occurrence of Fagivorina arenaria (Hufnagel, 1767) in the Czech Republic. The species belongs to the European endangered moths. It occurs only very locally and rarely in the Czech Republic. Published records come mainly from the border mountain ranges. Newly we present records from the Beskydy Mts. and the Hrubý Jeseník Mts. On the basis of our observations and published data, F. arenaria can be considered as a representative species of preserved mountain herb-rich beech forests. Due to the very local occurrence of the species, particular associations with mountain primeval forest and decline from some former localities, we argue that the species should be listed in the Red List of Invertebrates of the Czech Republic in the higher categories of threat, i.e. endangered or critically endangered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the European Alps, mean temperature has risen by 2.5 K since the end of the nineteenth century. A 2 K warming of the growing season has taken place in the last 4 decades only. The 2.5 K warming should rise the position of the climatic treeline by about 400 m. Actual shifts in uppermost tree positions reported here for the Austrian Defereggen Valley and the Swiss Lower Engadine region of the Eastern Alps reach only around 140 m of elevation above the limit of old trees that date back to the nineteenth century. Uppermost Pinus cembra trees of > 2 m height currently occur at c. 2500 m, representing elevation records for the Eastern Alps. In situ temperature records for 2022–2023 revealed seasonal mean temperatures for uppermost trees that are 1–3 K higher than the equilibrium treeline isotherm of c. 6 °C in both regions (corrected for temperature anomalies from long-term records). The 2 K span reflects microhabitat differences and two ways to define the season. Thus, tree advances lag behind the upslope shift of the treeline isotherm, on average, by more than 200 m. The uppermost trees currently grow under quite warm conditions with annual shoot length increments frequently reaching 20 cm. Even without additional future warming, the new steady-state climatic treeline will exceed the Holocene maximum elevation in the Eastern Alps substantially. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This paper examines poverty and inequality in Pakistan's mountains, using nationally representative data. Our analysis reveals that, despite a slight decline in poverty rates, overall rates remain alarmingly high, with significant variations across provinces and regions. Rural and mountain areas exhibit higher poverty rates (31% in rural areas, 13% in urban areas in 2015/16) compared to urban centers. The national incidence of multidimensional poverty in 2014/15 was 41%, surpassing monetary poverty rates. Notably, rural areas (47%) experienced significantly higher multidimensional poverty than urban centers (12%), with Balochistan’s mountainous province recording the highest rates (63%). The four provinces display significant heterogeneity in multidimensional poverty, with district-level variations ranging from 10 to 90% in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. The majority of districts with high poverty incidence are situated in mountainous regions, where people face multidimensional challenges in accessing basic facilities such as health and education, cooking fuel, and housing. To address this issue, Pakistan needs to prioritize mountain areas and implement targeted programs aimed at improving access to basic services, addressing gender inequalities, and promoting sustainable development.

Mountains harbour one third of the world's biodiversity and much of it is under increasing anthropogenic pressure. Yet, global assessments of the occurrence, and threat status of most mountain taxa, especially elusive ones are lacking, thereby hindering conservation and research prioritisation. In this study, we synthesise the distribution and conservation status of bats, a species rich taxon on mountains. By using data on geographical and elevational distribution ranges from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), we examined bat species richness on mountains, species that predominantly occur in mountains ('mountain dwelling species'), and those restricted to upper montane and alpine regions within mountains ('highland dwelling species'). We also used published trait datasets to investigate the traits that are associated with mountain dwelling in bats. Globally, we identified 148 mountain dwelling and 46 highland dwelling bat species. Bat diversity is highest in the Northern Andes and Guiana Highlands. The mountain dwelling nature of bat species was found to be significantly associated with biogeographic realm. Importantly, our results show that mountain dwelling species are proportionately more data deficient than species that predominantly occur in lowlands. Additionally, highland dwelling species are proportionately more threatened than lowland species. Our results highlight a significant dearth of knowledge on mountain dwelling bat species. We conclude that more research is needed for bats specialised on mountain ecosystems. Our results draw attention towards improving the knowledge and protection of bat species that occur predominantly at high elevations across the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To describe worldwide distribution of mammalian cradles and museums using the rates of phylogenetic lineage turnover as a surrogate. Additionally, we investigated the influences of current water–energy dynamics, climate instability, past climate changes and elevational ranges on the distribution of these evolutionary zones. Location: Global. Time Period: Current. Major Taxa Studied: Terrestrial mammals. Methods: We developed a new methodology that consists of calculating the spatial phylogenetic turnover for non‐overlapping temporal segments of phylogenetic trees. By calculating the relative turnover in each tree segment, we quantified the rate of accumulation of phylogenetic turnover through time. We depicted cold and hotspots of rates of lineage turnover using bivariate maps and examined the effects of environmental factors using a path model. Results: The distributions of cradles and museums of biodiversity are primarily driven by water–energy dynamics. Environments with higher water availability than energetic demand predominantly act as cradles, as seen in tropical rainforests, while xeric‐like environments predominantly serve as museums. Conversely, regions undergoing higher historical climate changes become cradles, such as in higher northern latitudes, while climatically stable areas function as museums. Mountains play a dual role, acting as both cradles and museums by generating new lineages along their elevation bands while simultaneously providing climate refuges for ancient mammal lineages. Main Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that cradles and museums are not merely a dichotomy but exist along an evolutionary continuum. Furthermore, they reveal how spatial patterns of mammalian cradles and museums are intricately shaped by biogeographical processes governed by environmental forces. Uncovering these hidden effects provides insights into the ecological mechanisms by which ongoing climate changes continually shape evolutionary assemblages over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High mountain valleys are characterized by the development of intricate ground stress fields due to geological processes such as tectonic stress, river erosion, and rock weathering. These processes introduce considerable stability concerns in the surrounding rock formations for underground engineering projects in these regions, highlighting the imperative need for rigorous stability assessments during the design phase to ensure construction safety. This paper introduces an innovative approach for the pre-evaluation of the stability of surrounding rocks in underground caverns situated within high mountain valleys. The methodology comprises several pivotal steps. Initially, we conduct inverse calculations of the ground stress field in complex geological terrains, combining field monitoring and numerical simulations. Subsequently, we ascertain stress-strength ratios of the surrounding rocks using various rock strength criteria. To assess the stability characteristics of the surrounding rocks in the 1# spillway cave within our project area, we employ numerical simulations to compute stress-strength ratios based on different rock strength criteria. Furthermore, we undertake a comparative analysis, utilizing data from the 5# Underground Laboratory (Lab 5) of Jinping II Hydropower Station, aligning the chosen rock strength criterion with the damage characteristics of Lab 50s surrounding rocks. This analysis serves as the cornerstone for evaluating other mechanical responses of the surrounding rocks, thereby validating the pre-evaluation methodology. Our pre-evaluation method takes into account the intricate geological evolution processes specific to high mountain valleys. It also considers the influence of the initial geostress field within the geological range of underground caverns. This comprehensive approach provides a robust foundation for the analysis and assessment of the stability of surrounding rocks, especially in high mountain valley areas, during the design phase of underground engineering projects. The insights derived from this analysis hold substantial practical significance for the effective guidance of such projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we documented and compared similarities of the alien plant species richness between South Africa represented by three provinces: Free State (FS), Eastern Cape (EC), and KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), and Lesotho—an important water source area for southern Africa. We tested the prediction that alien plant species in Lesotho are a subset of South Africa’s species partly because of the short geographical distances between the provinces and Lesotho, and environmental similarity. Overall, 7124 records containing 1040 individual alien plant species belonging to 147 families were documented. South Africa had significantly greater alien plant species records than Lesotho. Of 147 plant families, 44 were represented in both countries, and 101 families did not occur in Lesotho. Against the study prediction, the Geraniaceae and Orobanchaceae families occurred in Lesotho but not in three provinces. KwaZulu-Natal had a significantly greater number of species than Lesotho but not the other provinces, and 49% of species in three provinces originated from the Americas (i.e. South and North), Europe, and Asia. A similar pattern was observed in Lesotho. Woody and herbaceous alien plants, habitat transformers, dominated three provinces, while herbaceous species dominated Lesotho. The 62% of 1040 alien species were not listed in the South African national regulations, indicating their negative impacts are also unknown in the study region. Plant nurseries were a dominant species dispersal pathway in South Africa, while home gardens were prominent in Lesotho. We conclude that invasive plant species constitute a future threat to the Lesotho Drakensberg highlands water catchments and recommend prioritising their management and improving cross-border biosecurity between Lesotho and South Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ovarian follicle dinamycs and estrogen concentration interrelated to cow reproduction traits. Some previous studies said that preovulatory follicle directly related to estrogen concentration which induce estrous quality, and increasing pregnancy rate when artificial insemination happened. Another important factor to optimizing reproduction performance is altitude. Here in Indonesia these factors has not been studied further in PO cows. A total of 24 Peranakan Ongole (PO) cows, 12 cows from highlands or mountains of Kalibawang, Kulon Progo, Yogyakarta, Indonesia and 12 cows from lowlands or lowland of Galur District, Kulon Progo, Yogyakarta, Indonesia selected based on criterias; these cows ever had calves, not pregnant, 3-8 years old, have a Body Condition Score (BCS) of 2.5-3.5, in the peak phase of estrus and not experienced reproductive problems. The diameter of the cow ovarian follicles were examined using ultrasound and sera were taken to calculated the estrogen concentration using ELISA, meanwhile the NSPC taken from recording and farmer interview. The result showed that no difference of follicle diameter and estrogen concentration between mountain and lowland (p>0,05), a significant difference found in NSPC between mountain and lowland (p

The volcanoes of Kamchatka are a World Heritage Site. They are of aesthetic, conservation, and scientific value; therefore, they must be protected from negative anthropogenic influences. However, according to the recent assessment by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, this site inspires significant concern. A similar viewpoint was also expressed in the local press. A part of the site, Avachinsky Pass, inspires a particular concern. This is a place between the volcanoes Koryaksky and Avachinsky. An excessive number of visitors was considered the main threat because it resulted in the trampling of soil and the extirpation of threatened animals. We performed a survey of the Avachinsky Pass aiming to estimate its state. Based on aerial pictures and observation we composed a scheme of habitats over the area around Avachinsky Pass revealing the disturbed plots of land. Moreover, we registered vertebrates considering them as biological indicators. It became clear that tourism has a significant impact on the state of the Avachinsky Pass, but the affected area is relatively small. Despite a large number of visitors, the survey revealed high biodiversity. We registered 19 species of birds and 9 species of mammals. Among them, black-capped marmots are especially informative as they have a settled way of life; they do occur on the Pass. The absence of grazing and logging contributes to the conservation of elfin forests and other plant communities on the slopes making the object resistant to anthropogenic impacts. Off-road vehicles pose the biggest threat to bare-ground revegetation.

Mountain regions are recognised as hot-spots of climate change. Although the existence of an Elevation-Dependent Warming has been extensively confirmed in several mountain areas of the globe, fewer studies have analysed the elevational stratification of temporal trends of other climate variables, and particularly for precipitation. This study analyses changes in mean precipitation and its extremes in ERA5 global reanalysis data in key mountain areas of the globe, along with their elevational dependence, from 1951 to 2020. These include the Tibetan Plateau, the US Rocky Mountains, the Greater Alpine Region, and the Andes, as representative of different latitudes and climatic influences. Our analysis reveals common patterns of elevational dependent change in precipitation and its extremes in most of the mountainous areas, which emerge beyond their geographical differences. A positive elevational gradient of trends of extreme precipitation indices is found in the Tibetan Plateau, the Greater Alpine Region, and the subtropical Andes, highlighting a wetting effect (positive trends) at very high elevations. In contrast, the Rocky Mountains exhibit a negative elevational gradient, with a drying effect (negative trends) increasing with the elevation. Notably, a simple linear regression proved to be effective to describe the stratification of change in the Greater Alpine Region and the Rocky Mountains, whereas more complex vertical patterns need to be considered for the Andes and the Tibetan Plateau. Mean precipitation, heavy (≥ 10 mm) precipitation and the length of consecutive wet days show a consistent elevation-dependent stratification within each of the study areas, suggesting possible common driving mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using data on bird species elevational distributions from the world's mountain ranges, bird diets, and the distribution of the ant genus Oecophylla, we report that global patterns in bird elevational diversity show signals of competition with ants. Oecophylla is an abundant and effective predator of invertebrates, preying on the same species that invertivorous birds feed on. In mountain ranges with Oecophylla present in the foothills, the maximum species richness of invertivorous birds (but not other trophic guilds) occurs, on average, at 960 m, ca. 450 m higher than in mountain ranges without Oecophylla, resulting in a mid‐elevation peak in bird species richness. Where Oecophylla is absent, bird species richness for all guilds generally show monotonic declines with increasing elevation. We argue that Oecophylla reduces prey density for invertivorous birds and that low prey abundance reduces invertivorous bird density, which in turn is correlated with lower bird species richness. These findngs suggest that competition between distantly related taxa can set range limits, leading to emergent diversity patterns over large scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of studying bottom sediments taken from the high-mountain lake Sagan-Nur located on the Oka plateau (East Sayan Mountains), which is insufficiently studied, are presented. The lake is freshwater and has a glacial origin. Comprehensive investigations of the mineral composition of the lake sediments accumulated over the past ~8600 cal. years have been carried out for the first time. The research methods include X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy, laser granulometry, SiO2 bio determination, AMS, and 210Pb dating. The mineral composition of the bottom sediments is dominated by layered silicates, quartz, and plagioclase; furthermore, the X-ray amorphous component consisting of biogenic silica and organic matter is present. The method of mathematical modeling of their complex XRD patterns is used for correct identification of the layered silicates. It is established that the layered silicate assemblage is stable and is represented by muscovite, chlorite, illite, mixed-layer illite–smectite and chlorite–smectite, and kaolinite. At the same time, the structural characteristics and quantitative ratios of these minerals in the deposits changed significantly in response to changes in the natural environment of the region, which reveals the potential of a number of phyllosilicates (illite, mixed-layer minerals) as indicators of the paleoclimate in the bottom sediments of freshwater basins. The results of studying the sediment composition and, especially, the precision mineralogical–crystallochemical analysis of layered silicates have made it possible to reconstruct the paleolandscapes and climatic conditions of sediment accumulation and to assign them to the respective Holocene sub-stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The South Rifain ridges are an example of tectonic-sedimentation interaction in the Mio-Plio-Quaternary foreland basins at the front of the Rif chain. is an elongated mountain zone-oriented E-W and N-S, forming the most frontal part of the Rif belt. The morphotectonic study carried out in this area is based on Landsat-8 OLI image processing techniques to determine the contribution of these images to structural mapping. The results obtained reveal a predominant E-W orientation, which is widely present throughout the study area. This is followed by a second N-S direction, a third NW-SE direction, and a fourth NE-SW direction. The NW-SE lineaments are also mapped in kilometres. Their equivalent on the ground shows a sinister movement but does not show a significant horizontal displacement of more than a few metres. Together with the NE-SW faults, these faults form a conjugate system of dextral and sinistral faults, compatible with a palaeostress field where the maximum shortening stress is submeridian. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The melt of seasonal snowpack in mountain regions provides downstream river basins with a critical supply of freshwater. Snowdrift‐permitting models have been proposed as a way to accurately simulate snowpack heterogeneity that stems from differences in energy inputs, over winter redistribution, sublimation, melt, and variations in precipitation. However, these spatial scales can be computationally intractable for large extents. In this work, the multiscale Canadian Hydrological Model (CHM) was applied to simulate snowpacks at snowdrift‐permitting scales (≈50 m) across the Canadian Cordillera and adjacent regions (1.37 million km2) forced by downscaled atmospheric data. The use of a multiscale land surface representation resulted in a reduction of computational elements of 98% while preserving land‐surface heterogeneity. CHM includes complex terrain windflow and radiative transfer calculations, lapses temperature, humidity, and precipitation with elevation, redistributes snow by avalanching, wind transport and forest canopy interception and calculates the energetics of canopy and surface snowpacks. Model outputs were compared to a set of multiscale observations including snow‐covered area (SCA) from Sentinel and Landsat imagery, snow depth from uncrewed aerial system lidar, and point surface observations of depth and density. Including snow redistribution and sublimation processes improved the summer SCA r2 from 0.7 to 0.9. At larger scales, inclusion of snow redistribution processes delayed full snowpack ablation by an average of 33 days, demonstrating process emergence with scale. These simulations show how multiscale modeling can improve snowpack predictions to support prediction of water supply, droughts, and floods. Plain Language Summary: The spring melting of snowpacks in mountainous regions is crucial for providing freshwater to downstream river basins. Accurate simulation of mountain snowpacks requires accounting for factors like energy input, redistribution of snow, and forest canopies. However, including all these factors can be computationally challenging for large areas. In this study, the Canadian Hydrological Model (CHM) was used to simulate snowpacks at fine scales (about 50 m) across the Canadian Cordillera and nearby regions. By using a multiscale approach, the computational requirements were reduced substantially while maintaining the range of landscape features. The CHM accounts for various factors such as windflow, mountain shadowing, temperature, humidity, and precipitation changes with elevation, as well as snow redistribution through avalanching and wind transport. The model was validated against multiscale observations including satellite imagery, lidar data, and point observations. By incorporating snow redistribution and sublimation processes in the model, the accuracy of snow cover predictions improved over spring and summer. At larger scales, considering snow redistribution delayed the complete melting of snowpacks by an average of 33 days, showcasing the importance of scale‐dependent redistribution and ablation processes. These simulations demonstrate how multiscale modeling enhances snowpack predictions, aiding in forecasts of water supply, droughts, and floods. Key Points: A novel, large extent, snowdrift permitting scale simulation of ≈1.4 M km2 was performedThe inclusion of snow redistribution was scale emergent and delayed full snowcover ablation by 33 days on averageThe inclusion of snow redistribution processes improved the summer simulated versus observed snow‐covered area r2 from 0.7 to 0.9 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigating functional traits among mountain species with differing altitude requirements is integral to effective conservation practices. Our study aims to investigate the structural and chemical characteristics of Daphniphyllum macropodum leaves at three altitudes (1100 m, 1300 m, and 1500 m) across southern China to provide insight into changes in leaf functional traits (LFT) as well as plant adaptations in response to changing environmental conditions. Leaf structural characteristics include leaf thickness (LT), leaf area (LA), specific leaf area (SLA), and leaf tissue density (LD), respectively, while chemical properties include carbon-nitrogen-phosphorus (C:N:P) contents and ratios, such as C/N, C/P, and N/P. Our findings demonstrated the significant effect of altitude on both structural (LT, SLA, LD) and chemical aspects (N, C/N, N/P) of LFT. In particular, leaves at 1100 and 1300 m differed greatly, with 1300 m having lower SLA values than 1100 m. Observable trends included an initial increase followed by a decline as the altitude rose. Notable among them were the LT, LD, N, and N/P values at both locations. Traits at 1300 m were significantly higher than at 1100 m; SLA and C/N values displayed an inverse trend, with their lowest values occurring at 1300 m. Furthermore, this research demonstrated various degrees of variation among LFT, with structural traits exhibiting greater fluctuation than chemical traits. Robust correlations were observed among certain traits, such as LT, LD, and SLA. Furthermore, the interdependency relationships between N and C/N, as well as P and C/P, demonstrated interconnectedness. Redundancy analysis indicated that soil factors, specifically P content, exerted the strongest impact on LFT. At 1100 m, D. macropodum employed acquisition strategies; however, at 1300 m, conservation strategies emerged, showing a shift from acquisition strategies at lower altitudes to conservative strategies at higher ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous factors influence mountain biodiversity variation across elevational gradients and recognizing the relative importance is vital for understanding species distribution mechanisms. We examined oribatid mites at nine elevations (from 600 to 2200 m a.s.l) and four vegetation types from mixed coniferous and broad‐leaved forests to alpine tundra on Changbai Mountain. We assessed the contribution of environmental factors (climatic and local factors) and spatial processes (geographic or elevation distances) to oribatid mite community assembly and identified 59 oribatid mite species from 38 families and 51 genera. With increasing elevation, species richness and the Shannon index declined significantly, whereas abundance followed a hump‐shaped trend. Soil TP, NH4+‐N, MAT, MAP, and elevation were the critical variables shaping oribatid mite communities based on random forest analysis. Moreover, environmental and spatial factors, and oribatid mite communities were significantly correlated based on Mantel and partial Mantel tests. Local characteristics (3.9%), climatic factors (1.9%), and spatial filtering (8.8%) played crucial roles in determining oribatid mite communities across nine elevational bands (based on variation partitioning analyses of abundance data). Within the same vegetation types, spatial processes had relatively little effects, with local characteristics the dominant drivers of oribatid mite community variation. Environmental and spatial filters together shape oribatid mite community assembly and their relative roles varied with elevation and vegetation type. These findings are crucial for the conservation, restoration, and management of Changbai mountain ecosystems in the context of climate change, along with the prediction of future vertical biotic gradient pattern evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper addresses the problem of weighting in an analysis that supports the selection of a categorical data set according to user needs. Using the Relative Change (RC) of the Compound Correspondence Index (CCI), it is shown that weights have a significant impact on user choice - reaching extreme values in both urbanized and forested areas. Decreasing the weights from 0.25 to 0.17 in forested and built-up areas resulted in the maximum variations that were seen in the hot spot maps, with cold areas generally corresponding to builtup regions and hot areas to forested areas. The analysis covers seven counties that are located in different regions of Poland: Pomerania, Podlasie, Mazovia, Greater Poland and the Beskidy Mountains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of African & Mediterranean Journal of Architecture & Urbanism (AMJAU) is the property of Ecole Nationale d'Architecture 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.)

For the regions with a long-term snow cover, the amount of solid precipitation is one of the driving factors in the formation of floods. The article considers the possibility of using the orographic correction to the velocity of vertical movements of air masses due to the relief in estimating winter precipitation and forecasting maximum snowmelt-induced stages. The significant influence of autumn freezing on the floodplain inundation and, accordingly, maximum water levels of the Ob River near the city of Barnaul is shown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We measured light‐related patterns of primary productivity within a topographically complex Oregon watershed over a 30‐year period. Second‐growth conifer densities were experimentally altered in 1981. Plots receiving at least 3434 MJ m−2 over a 6‐month growing season averaged 40% greater aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) than those receiving less light (p = 0.000). Unthinned stands potentially built enough LAI to compensate for low light, but risked mortality that exceeded resilience. The two light levels acted as basins of attraction for other physiological and ecological processes, including size–density relationships and limiting foliar nutrients. Initial (1981) LAI and the irradiation step (above or below 3434 MJ m−2) explained 60% of variation in a 30‐year ANPP. Irradiation within each light group did not affect ANPP. At high irradiation, foliar N/Ca and slope steepness (both negative) explained 58% of the variation in residuals from the initial models, while at low irradiation on north, east, and west aspects, 83% of residual variation was explained by foliar Mg (+), understory cover (+), and 30‐year mortality (−). Light use efficiency (LUE) of fully stocked stands correlated with LAI and foliar N/K. Results suggest that understory influence on tree foliar N (+ or −) enhances ANPP by regulating critical nutrient ratios. Mortality reduced or eliminated differences among thinning levels, which did not vary at low light and only between unthinned and heavily thinned at high light. Values associated with relatively open forests (biodiversity, resilience) may be attained without large sacrifice of long‐term carbon sinks. In our study, light interacts with topography to produce nonlinear dynamics in which small changes in irradiation can have large consequences. Reduced sunlight has been suggested as a geoengineering option to combat global warming. Ecological changes out of proportion to lowered irradiation are a distinct possibility, including sharp reductions in terrestrial carbon sinks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Much of the world's biodiversity lies in heterogeneous mountain areas with their diverse environments. As an example, Iranian montane ranges are highly diverse, particularly in the Irano-Turanian phytogeographical region. Understanding plant diversity patterns with increasing elevation is of high significance, not least for conservation planning. We studied the pattern of species richness, Shannon diversity, endemic richness, endemics ratio, and richness of life forms along a 3900 m elevational transect in Mount Palvar, overlooking the Lut Desert in Southeast Iran. We also analyzed the effect of environmental variables on species turnover along the vertical gradient. A total of 120 vegetation plots (10 m × 10 m) were sampled along the elevational transect containing species and environmental data. To discover plant diversity pattern along the elevational gradient, generalized additive model (GAM) was used. Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) was applied for illustrating the correlation between species composition and environmental variables. We found hump-shaped pattern for species richness, Shannon diversity, endemic richness, and species richness of different life forms, but a monotonic increasing pattern for ratio of endemic species from low to high elevations. Our study confirms the humped pattern of species richness peaking at intermediate elevations along a complete elevational gradient in a semi-arid mountain. The monotonic increase of endemics ratio with elevation in our area as a case study is consistent with global increase of endemism with elevation. According to our results, temperature and precipitation are two important climatic variables that drive elevational plant diversity, particularly in seasonally dry areas. Our study suggests that effective conservation and management are needed for this low latitude mountain area along with calling for long-term monitoring for species redistribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The meridional overturning circulation (MOC) in the ocean is a key player in the global climate system, while continental topography provides an essential backdrop to the system. In this study, we design a series of coupled model sensitivity experiments to investigate the influence of various mountain ranges on the global thermohaline circulation. The results highlight the influence of the Tibetan Plateau (TP) on the global thermohaline circulation. It emerges as a requisite for establishing the Atlantic MOC (AMOC) and a determining factor for the cessation of the Pacific MOC (PMOC). Additionally, the Antarctic continent plays a vital role in facilitating the TP to form the AMOC. While the formation of the AMOC cannot be attributed to any single mountain range, the TP alone can inhibit the PMOC's development. By modifying the global hydrological cycle, the TP is likely to have been crucial in molding the global thermohaline circulation. This paper presents quantitative evaluation of the role of different continental mountains in shaping the global meridional overturning circulation. The Tibetan Plateau is likely to have been crucial in molding the global thermohaline circulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although it is well documented that mountains tend to exhibit high biodiversity, how geological processes affect the assemblage of montane floras is a matter of ongoing research. Here, we explore landform-specific differences among montane floras based on a dataset comprising 17,576 angiosperm species representing 140 Chinese mountain floras, which we define as the collection of all angiosperm species growing on a specific mountain. Our results show that igneous bedrock (granitic and karst-granitic landforms) is correlated with higher species richness and phylogenetic overdispersion, while the opposite is true for sedimentary bedrock (karst, Danxia, and desert landforms), which is correlated with phylogenetic clustering. Furthermore, we show that landform type was the primary determinant of the assembly of evolutionarily older species within floras, while climate was a greater determinant for younger species. Our study indicates that landform type not only affects montane species richness, but also contributes to the composition of montane floras. To explain the assembly and differentiation of mountain floras, we propose the 'floristic geo-lithology hypothesis', which highlights the role of bedrock and landform processes in montane floristic assembly and provides insights for future research on speciation, migration, and biodiversity in montane regions. An analysis of 140 floras from China reveals that high species diversity exists in granite and mixed landforms, while low species diversity is found in karst, Danxia, and desert landforms. Based on these findings, the authors provide new clues for understanding the assembly and differentiation of mountain floras, highlighting the role of bedrock and landform processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Impact of rainfall and slopes on soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics was assessed under tea and coffee plantations, land covers, in Western Ghats Mountain (WGM). Severe water erosion in the western side of WGM by heavy rainfall and land sloppiness recorded less SOC (3.07%) compared to the eastern side (4.03%) in tea plantations. Similar trend in SOC was observed in coffee plantations, with 1.98% in western side and 3.25% in eastern side. Loss of soil organic carbon stock under tea plantations in western sides was 0.346 million tonnes and in coffee plantations it was 0.190 million tonnes. Hence, the total organic carbon loss was 0.536 million tonnes. Highest SOC content and stocks were recorded in steep slopes in tea and coffee plantations due to dense biomass cover and adoption of soil and water conservation measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conserving mountains is important for protecting biodiversity because they have high beta diversity and endemicity, facilitate species movement, and provide numerous ecosystem benefits for people. Mountains are often thought to have lower levels of human modification and contain more protected area than surrounding lowlands. To examine this, we compared biogeographic attributes of the largest, contiguous, mountainous region on each continent. In each region, we generated detailed ecosystems based on Köppen−Geiger climate regions, ecoregions, and detailed landforms. We quantified anthropogenic fragmentation of these ecosystems based on human modification classes of large wild areas, shared lands, and cities and farms. Human modification for half the mountainous regions approached the global average, and fragmentation reduced the ecological integrity of mountain ecosystems up to 40%. Only one‐third of the major mountainous regions currently meet the Kunming‐Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework target of 30% coverage for all protected areas; furthermore, the vast majority of ecosystem types present in mountains were underrepresented in protected areas. By measuring ecological integrity and human‐caused fragmentation with a detailed representation of mountain ecosystems, our approach facilitates tracking progress toward achieving conservation goals and better informs mountain conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The antlion genera Gatzara and Nepsalus (Myrmeleontidae: Dendroleontinae) inhabit mountain forests and are characterised by camouflaging larvae. Both genera remain poorly known despite recent findings on systematics and distribution. We report the discovery of new specimens and the previously unknown larvae of the rare species Gatzara jubilaea Navás, 1915, Nepsalus insolitus (Walker, 1860) and N. decorosus (Yang, 1988). These provide new evidence regarding the affinities of these species, and updated knowledge of the distribution, larval morphology and biology. Moreover, a new species of Nepsalus, N. maclachlani Badano, Zheng & Liu, sp. nov. is described from Sri Lanka based on historical museum collections. The discovery of the immature stages of Gatzara shows that the larvae of this genus share the same specialised ecological characteristics and habits as those of Nepsalus but are less morphologically derived. We also reconstruct a molecular phylogeny of this lineage, estimating the divergence time and biogeographical history by adding the new samples. The evolution of the Gatzara + Nepsalus lineage is associated with two major mountain ranges on the southern Tibetan Plateau, i.e. the Himalayas and the Hengduan Mountains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geographical barriers like mountain ranges impede genetic exchange among populations, promoting diversification. The effectiveness of these barriers in limiting gene flow varies between lineages due to each species' dispersal modes and capacities. Our understanding of how the Andes orogeny contributes to species diversification comes from well‐studied vertebrates and a few arthropods and plants, neglecting organisms unable to fly or walk long distances. Some arachnids, such as Gasteracantha cancriformis, have been hypothesized to disperse long distances via ballooning (i.e. using their silk to interact with the wind). Yet, we do not know how the environment and geography shape its genetic diversity. Therefore, we tested whether the Andes contributed to the diversification of G. cancriformis acting as an absolute or semi‐permeable barrier to genetic connectivity between populations of this spider at opposite sides of the mountain range. We sampled thousands of loci across the distribution of the species and implemented population genetics, phylogenetic, and landscape genetic analyses. We identified two genetically distinct groups structured by the Central Andes, and a third less structured group in the Northern Andes that shares ancestry with the previous two. This structure is largely explained by the altitude along the Andes, which decreases in some regions, possibly facilitating cross‐Andean dispersal and gene flow. Our findings support that altitude in the Andes plays a major role in structuring populations in South America, but the strength of this barrier can be overcome by organisms with long‐distance dispersal modes together with altitudinal depressions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is concerned with the buckling of a film-substrate bilayer in a state of plane strain when it is subjected to a uni-axial compression along its free surface. Previous numerical simulations have indicated that pre-stretching the substrate in such a bilayer may lead to the formation of a mountain ridge mode as a secondary bifurcation. We present a scenario in which such a localized mode is also possible as a first bifurcation. It is first shown through a linear bifurcation analysis that by applying a pre-compression to the substrate, the stretch λ versus wavenumber k may develop a local minimum in addition to the local maximum that already exists in the absence of a pre-compression when the film is stiffer than the substrate. As a result, the λ at k = 0 may become larger than the local maximum if the pre-compression exceeds a threshold value, and hence becomes the critical stretch for bifurcation. This case is considered in this article, and it is shown through a weakly nonlinear analysis that multiple long wavelength modes may bifurcate subcritically from the uniform solution and quickly localize in the form of a mountain ridge. The solutions thus found are probably unstable, but form an essential part in the understanding of the global bifurcation behavior. It is hoped that our analytical results will guide future numerical simulations and experimental studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the family Calliphoridae, the genus Calliphora Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830, includes species of medical, veterinary and forensic relevance. This study reports for the first time the presence of Calliphora rohdendorfi (Grunin, 1966) in the Italian territory, namely in Calabrian Apennines (Southern Italy). The adults of the species were captured by bait bottle and yellow pan traps within a monitoring project of Diptera Brachycera involving Parco Nazionale dell'Aspromonte (Aspromonte National Park), Parco Nazionale della Sila (Sila National Park) and Parco Naturale Regionale delle Serre (Natural Regional Park of Serre), between 2018 and 2021. Calliphora rohdendorfi was identified on detailed morphological bases of both sexes. This was the first description of the general morphology of the female and its terminalia through digital photographs acquired by stereomicroscopy. The species was captured in pine and beech forests at an altitude between 1010 and 1820 m a.s.l. in shaded mountain areas. Prior to the finding in Southern Italy, this species showed an unusually disjointed distribution in Caucasus, Germany and Poland, thus the presence of C. rohdendorfi in Calabrian Apennines provides new and interesting data that require further investigation, because the species could play a role as flower visitor, pollinator and forensic indicator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

My paper wishes to delve into concepts such as assemblage and sympoiesis and examine them within the framework of my ethnographic fieldwork on beekeeping in the Western chain of the Italian Alps. I believe that the implications of notions such as sympoiesis and assemblage can be seen to surface in the context of beekeeping and bee culture, as they emerge as multispecies activities where everything and everyone involved can be regarded as a social actor. In this respect, the most relevant issues I would like to tackle are referred to knowledge production and know-how among beekeepers who keep their apiaries in the plains for most part of the year and move them to mountain areas for the summer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, as a result of global warming and increased development of mountain areas, which are highly sensitive to anthropogenic impacts, there has been a rapid increase in the number and scale of natural disasters accompanied by material damage and even death of people. An increase in anthropogenic impact on the mid- and high-mountain geosystems is also characteristic of the mountainous territories of Azerbaijan, especially, because this is pronounced within the southern slope of the Greater Caucasus. Here, along with such dangerous processes as avalanches, landslides, etc., mudflows are intensively manifested. New methods of dealing with them should be developed to mitigate their effects. In this regard, the problems of studying the development and mapping of mudflow centres become very relevant. On the southern slope of the Greater Caucasus, the basin of the Goychay River is one of the most subject to mudflow processes, which in recent years has caused significant economic and social losses. The article gives a complete description of the landscape-geomorphological factor as one of the main factors in the formation of mudflow centres and traces their development dynamics. In the course of the study, with the aim of using the ArcGİS software for 2018, the area was calculated and the dynamics of the development of a number of mudflow centres was revealed. In addition, a land use map of the Goychay River basin was compiled with the help of statistical, cartographic (digital topographic and maps of the use of past years) and remote sensing (RS) data (interpretation of aerospace images (ASS) 2002-2019 from the Landsat satellite (scale: 1: 60,000). On the basis of field research and landscape mapping in the "key areas", the influence of mudflow processes on the differentiation of landscapes in the basin of the Goychay River was studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the findings of ecogeomorphological studies conducted in the high-mountain belt of the southern slope of the Main Caucasus Range by utilizing satellite imagery. The investigations reaffirmed the dynamic nature of exogenous relief-forming processes evident in slope surface conditions and the diverse array of natural landscapes in high-mountain regions. The data acquired facilitated the development of measures aimed at enhancing the natural environment and guiding future land use practices. Through this research, various factors contributing to degradation processes were identified, enabling the pinpointing of erosion-prone areas on both slopes of the Greater Caucasus and the formulation of what we believe to be the most optimal anti-erosion measures scheme. Analysis of satellite imagery revealed that some river basins originating from the southern slope of the Main Caucasus Range exhibit the most pronounced soil and vegetation degradation processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conservation breeding programs have long been an important management tool for species recovery. Recently, breeding programs have begun to integrate next generation sequencing data into pedigree-based management strategies designed to maximize retention of genetic diversity and minimize inbreeding. In 2005, an ex situ breeding program for two of the three extant, geographically separate populations of the endangered southern mountain yellow-legged frog (Rana muscosa) was established at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. To provide improved breeding recommendations for the species, we conducted molecular population genetic assessments using double digest restriction site-associated DNA sequencing data. We first studied genetic diversity, population differentiation, and genetic structure of wild frogs to validate the status of management units in R. muscosa. Genetic diversity was relatively low (HO = 0.166–0.245), population differentiation moderate (FST = 0.29), and patterns of genetic structure and admixture supported the evolutionary divergence of frogs by mountain ranges with limited gene flow. In the breeding program, relatedness estimates identified close relatives amongst the founders, and molecularly-derived kinship values were used to determine and rank suitable breeders to minimize population mean kinship. Ex situ management recommendations highlight the need for importing additional founders from the wild to enhance genetic diversity in the breeding program, as an effective source for genetic restoration. Alternatively, the use of advanced reproductive technologies to capture wild diversity without removal of individuals from the wild seem promising. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Field Ornithology is the property of Resilience Alliance 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.)