Conservation Ecology Research Papers - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

2025, HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe)

Un recensement des oiseaux de l'îlot Loop et des îlots du Mouillage (atoll des Chesterfield, mer de Corail) a été fait à l'occasion d'une mission de surveillance du patrouilleur La Moqueuse de la Marine nationale, du 26 janvier au 1 er février 2009. Quatorze espèces d'oiseaux ont été observées sur les îlots, dont dix oiseaux marins nicheurs (puffin fouquet Ardenna pacifica, noddi noir Anous minutus, noddi brun A. stolidus, sterne huppée Thalasseus bergii, sterne fuligineuse Onychoprion fuscatus, fou masqué Sula dactylatra, fou brun S. leucogaster, fou à pieds rouges S. sula, frégate ariel Fregata ariel, frégate du Pacifique F. minor), un oiseau marin apparemment non nicheur au moment de la mission (sterne à nuque noire S. sumatrana), deux limicoles (tournepierre Arenaria interpres et chevalier Tringa incana) et le râle à bandes Gallirallus philippensis. Le puffin fouquet était abondant en mer, dans le lagon sud-ouest de la grande terre et dans la mer de Corail, mais absent du lagon des Chesterfield. Différentes observations suggèrent l'importance des îles Chesterfield comme site de reproduction de la tortue verte Chelonia mydas.

2025

Avec plusieurs centaines d'îlots disséminés comme autant de confettis sur une vaste surface océanique et lagonaire, les récifs coralliens de Nouvelle-Calédonie offrent un espace de nidification exceptionnel pour une communauté d'oiseaux marins diversifiée et abondante (chap. 20). Les oiseaux marins constituent l'un des groupes animaux les plus menacés à l'échelle mondiale et leur risque d'extinction augmente plus rapidement que pour tout autre groupe d'oiseaux. Les oiseaux marins représentent de précieux bio-indicateurs des impacts directs et indirects associés aux activités humaines tant à terre qu'en mer, parce que la plupart ces espèces sont longévives et partagent leur existence entre leurs colonies de reproduction à terre (notamment au niveau des îlots coralliens) et la mer (pour leur alimentation et lors des périodes inter-nuptiales). En particulier, leur position de prédateurs supérieurs, au sommet de la chaîne alimentaire marine et leur sensibilité aux modifications et perturbations environnementales, qui affectent les sites d'alimentation et de reproduction, en font des « espèces sentinelles » pour les gestionnaires des espaces naturels marins et insulaires.

2025

Through use of Student’s t-test and comparison of slopes of independent samples, this document establishes growth rates for several E. alabamae subpopulations, and assesses the impact of drought on the Pryor Branch and Moss Spring Pond subpopulations. Coincidentally, the statistics employed are shown to be valuable tools with which to monitor E. alabamae subpopulations.

2025

The theme for the 1989 Starker Lectures concerned uncertainty surrounding forests and forestry in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. It was a timely theme. Indeed, the uncertainties concerning trade-offs among commodity production and environment and the allocation of forest land, especially public lands, loom large as we enter the decade of the 90's. We invited for the 1989 lectures speakers who would address current issues not in the value-laden terms of the day, but in a more detached and analytical way, an approach that better permits the listener or reader to make judgements based on factual and scientific information. This, we believe, is a proper role for the College of Forestry. Richard Plochmann, professor of forest policy at the University of Munich, describes the evolution of forestry in central Europe from the 18th century to the present. From the severely degraded forests of the 1700's, to the intensively managed man-made forests of the next two centuries, forests and forestry are turning today toward a more naturalistic composition. Don Flora, senior researcher in international trade, examines questions 111 surrounding timbertrade. His research

2025, Ecology and evolution

Biodiversity continues to decline in the face of increasing anthropogenic pressures such as habitat destruction, exploitation, pollution and introduction of alien species. Existing global databases of…

2025

The exploitation and conversion of forest ecosystems is often explained by economists as being the result of an undervaluation of the goods and services provided by the forest. The line of argumentation continues and says that in order to sustain forest environments the goods and services they provide should be valued. However, in their quest to value environmental goods and services, many economists apply valuation techniques which have pre-defined value concepts rooted into the history of one particular culture from which their discipline originates. Applying these techniques in foreign cultural contexts can lead to adverse environmental effects on forests and species diversity. Taking a broader view and recognising economic values as institutions which order socio-ecological interaction allows for a better understanding of the underlying value concepts held in different cultures and creates an understanding of the diversity of institutional arrangements. Instead of replacing indi...

2025, Biodiversity and Conservation

There has been a rapid decline of grassland bird species in the UK over the last four decades. In order to stem declines in biodiversity such as this, mitigation in the form of newly created habitat and restoration of degraded habitats is advocated in the UK biodiversity action plan. One potential restored habitat that could support a number of bird species is re-created grassland on restored landfill sites. However, this potential largely remains unexplored. In this study, birds were counted using point sampling on nine restored landfill sites in the East Midlands region of the UK during 2007 and 2008. The effects of restoration were investigated by examining bird species composition, richness, and abundance in relation to habitat and landscape structure on the landfill sites in comparison to paired reference sites of existing wildlife value. Twelve bird species were found in total and species richness and abundance on restored landfill sites was found to be higher than that of reference sites. Restored landfill sites support both common grassland bird species and also UK Red List bird species such as skylark Alauda arvensis, grey partridge Perdix perdix, lapwing Vanellus vanellus, tree sparrow, Passer montanus, and starling Sturnus vulgaris. Size of the site, percentage of bare soil and amount of adjacent hedgerow were found to be the most influential habitat quality factors for the distribution of most bird species. Presence of open habitat and crop land in the surrounding landscape were also found to have an effect on bird species composition. Management of restored landfill sites should be targeted towards UK Red List bird species since such sites could potentially play a significant role in biodiversity action planning.

2025, Urban Ecosystems

The growing number of urban ecology studies has raised concern about the importance of comprehending the ecological patterns and processes of urban areas in order to manage and plan them properly. In this study, we performed a rapid descriptive ecological assessment of the biodiversity patterns in a neotropical mid-sized urban area from a multitaxonomic approach, contrasting seven taxonomic groups (i.e., vascular plants, fungi, ants, butterflies, beetles, amphibians, birds) in areas with different degree of urbanization intensity. Results of this study show that diversity patterns differ depending on the taxonomic group; thus, it was not possible to generalize specific trends in species richness, abundance, and species composition because each taxon seems to respond differently to the process or level of urbanization. Our results also highlight the relevance of using multi-taxonomic approaches to understand the relationship between biodiversity and urban environments, and underline potential benefits and limitations of using each of the studied groups when considering rapid biodiversity assessments. Based on our results, we suggest the following recommendations when performing rapid biological assessments in urban areas: evaluate as many taxa as possible, choosing the set of taxonomic groups in relation to the objectives of the study, wide the temporal and spatial survey window as much as possible, focus on several biodiversity measures, and interpreting results cautiously, as rapid assessments do not necessarily reflect ecological patterns, but just part of the history.

2025, Lapai Journal of Humanities

How will sustainable farming seek to fulfil present-day food security while conserving environmental resources? Finding equilibrium in food security is challenged by eco-individualism. Using the philosophical method of analysis, this study finds that eco-individualism characterizes the moral dominance of other members of the earth. The study recommends the implementation of the Native-Centric Ecological Model (NCEM), a decolonization practice aimed at restraining eco-individualism. The NCEM is an idea rooted in agroecology that involves integrating native ecological knowledge, social practices, and community engagement in rice farming to enhance biodiversity and environmental sustainability. It will also help improve food security and enhance sustainable rice farming in Nigeria. The study concludes that improving farmers' well-being, increasing community commitment to ecological practices, and supporting biodiversity conservation will promote the well-being of the earth, aimed at restraining eco individualism.

2025, Dialogue and Universalism

This paper attempts to critique the existential philosophy of Martin Buber’s theory
of the “I-Thou” using the Yoruba concept of okun omo iya. The need for the realization
of a sustainable environment has been a point of focus for researchers, scholars, and
government policy makers. The reason for this realization is not far-fetched. According
to a record from World Health Organisation (WHO), one-quarter of all deaths world
wide are attributed to over-exploitation and reckless usage of the environment. This
undoubtedly has caused several human-induced disasters such as floods. The reckless
usage and abuse of the environment is predicated on the domineering tendency of hu
mans towards the environment. Martin Buber, in his existentialist philosophy, argues
that humans should treat their relations as “I-Thou” (as subjects) and not as “I-It” (as
objects). It follows that humans must be considerate in relating with each other such that
fellow humans should not be treated as a means to an end, rather as ends in themselves.
Simply put, fellow humans should not be seen as objects that others can either control,
dominate, or subdue. However, Buber’s existentialist philosophy is human-centered, as
it excludes the non-human entities and as well, failed to explain the relationship that
should exist between humans and non-human entities. Hence, the Yoruba concept of
okun omo iya will be used as a paradigm to remodel and re-configure the existentialist
philosophy of Buber in a way that is environmentally inclusive.
Keywords: Yoruba, Okun Omo Iya, “I-Thou,” existentialism, sustainable environ
ment.

2025, Conservation Ecology

The thesis of this paper is that the "rational fool" syndrome can be applied to mainstream public sector agricultural research that is conducted in a way that is rational in the short term, but acts against its own longterm viability. Historically, a main concern of such research has been to maximize high levels of food production together with low prices to consumers. As a result, mainstream agricultural science has ignored negative impacts or externalities, which has contributed to a crisis of credibility with the general public and politically sensitive decision makers. A long-term strategic research agenda for the public sector is being defined that is new and

2025, Kibiten, Gaston P. (2018). Laudato Si’s call for dialogue with indigenous peoples: A cultural insider’s response from the Christianized indigenous communities of the Philippines. Solidarity: The Journal of Catholic Social Teaching and Secular Ethics, 8(1) Article 4. Available at: https://research...

Picking up from Laudato Si’s suggestion to dialogue with indigenous peoples in line with its urgent call to address the current ecological crisis, this paper interrogates the Catholic Church’s complicity in undermining the cultures of indigenous peoples in the Philippines. It argues that the matter has to be revisited and acted upon accordingly, as this remains a challenge to the relations between the indigenous communities and the Church, including their common advocacy for environmental care. As a case for
discussion, the paper presents an autoethnographic analysis of the Church’s proselytization of the indigenous Kankanaeys of the Cordillera region, focusing on how this process undercut and transformed
the people’s worldview and religion, and eroded their traditional relations with nature. From the autoethnographic case, the paper proposes several lines of action that can be considered in dialogue by the Church and the indigenous Christian communities: a Church-wide formal apology and rectification of wrongs, radical inculturation, integration of indigenous deities and spirits, and shaping up an indigenous Christian ecological ethos. These measures, aside from mitigating the lingering impact of Christian conversion on indigenous cultures, could pave the way towards better partnership between the two parties in today’s environmental politics in the country.

2025, Journal of Applied Philosophy, Vol. 23. No. 2

Nigeria, a West African country, is characterised by a pluralistic society with three dominant faiths: African Religion, Christianity and Islam. Despite being richly endowed with natural resources, the country faces severe environmental degradation. This study explores sacred excerpts from African and Islamic religions to examine their ecological positions in the face of contemporary environmental threats in Nigeria.Using an interdisciplinary research approach, data were collected through focus group discussions and literature review. The findings reveal that human activities, driven by scientific and technological advancements, have led to environmental degradation, contradicting the ecological teachings of the two religions on preservation and judicious use of nature for posterity. The research advocates for a return to environmental conservation and responsible resource management, as emphasised by the teachings of African Religion and Islam. It recommends that traditional, religious, and political leaders promote environmental stewardship among their followers. Ultimately, this study emphasises the need for collective action to safeguard the environment for future generations, recognising it as a sacred entity created by a supreme being.

2025, Ecomedia Literacy Quickstart Guide

This short quickstart guide introduces educators to ecomedia literacy, providing a framework for integrating environmental awareness and media studies into curricula across disciplines. It outlines key concepts, analytical approaches, and learning objectives, emphasizing the interconnectedness of media, technology, and ecological systems. The guide covers topics like environmental ideologies, the ecomedia commons, and the ecological footprint of media technologies. It offers practical examples of learning activities and case studies, demonstrating how to apply ecomedia literacy principles in various educational contexts. The guide also includes a glossary of important terms and suggestions for further reading, serving as a comprehensive resource for educators looking to incorporate ecomedia literacy into their teaching practices.

2025, Conservation Ecology

Introduction ♦ Theories • Materials and Methods • Results ♦ Local Characteristics ♦ Ecological Breadth Groups ♦ Geographic Range ♦ Categorization • Discussion ♦ Conservation Implications ♦ Tests of the Theories ♦ Speculations • Responses to this Article • Acknowledgments • Literature Cited • Appendices ♦ Appendix 1. Site by species data matrix ♦ Appendix 2. Ecological information for the 232 species ♦ Appendix 3. Environmental variables measured and ordination axis positions for the 92 plots ♦ Appendix 4. Details of multivariate methods

2025, MAY COGNITIVE INTELLIGENCE BE AN UNIVERSAL ATTRIBUTE OF ANIMAL LIFE?

In this paper I summarized the main points of evidence showing that cognitive intelligence may not be the attribute of a few superior species but rather recur often in the evolutionary network, when necessary for a better nervous... more

2025, Energy's History

Chapter in Energy's History (Stanford 2025), edited by Daniela Russ and Thomas Turnbull.

2025, Galemys: Boletín informativo de la Sociedad Española para la conservación y estudio de los mamíferos

Se analiza la ecología trófica de la nutria paleártica (Lutra lutra) a partir de excrementos recogidos en el río Francia (Salamanca), perteneciente a la cuenca hidrográfica del Tajo. El estudio analiza los cambios en la dieta, tanto estacionalmente durante un periodo anual completo, como en altitud a lo largo del río Francia en un recorrido de 24,5 km de longitud y aproximadamente 1000 m de desnivel. Los peces son la presa fundamental mientras que el resto de grupos son accidentales. Nueve especies de peces fueron encontradas durante el estudio, siendo la principal Squalius pyrenaicus, seguido por el género Barbus sp., Chondrostoma lemmingii y Salmo trutta. Chondrostoma arcasii es consumida de forma secundaria, mientras Micropterus salmoides, Cobitis vettonica, Squalius alburnoides y Cyprinus carpio son accidentales en la dieta. Dentro de los peces, los ciprínidos son más consumidos en las zonas medias y bajas, mientras que la trucha lo es en los tramos altos. En las zonas donde coexisten truchas y pequeños ciprínidos, la nutria depreda más sobre los ciprínidos. Lutra lutra no parece mostrarse selectiva con la especie de pez sobre la que depreda, sino más bien sobre el tamaño de sus presas y prefiere en ocasiones capturar peces de talla mediana o pequeña a grandes peces, explotando así de forma intensiva más las zonas de pozas que las aguas abiertas. Después de los peces, la presa más importante es el cangrejo rojo americano o de las marismas (Procambarus clarkii), seguido por anfibios y reptiles, principalmente Rana iberica y Rana perezi durante el verano, y la culebra viperina (Natrix maura) en el otoño. Aves y mamíferos suponen un escaso aporte a la dieta, aunque es de resaltar cualitativamente la captura ocasional de rata de agua (Arvicola sapidus) y desmán ibérico (Galemys pyrenaicus). Respecto a la diversidad en la dieta, es mayor en los tramos altos del río que en las zonas más bajas, así como durante la época estival con respecto al invierno, en correspondencia con la disponibilidad de presas en el medio.

2025

Sustainable development of civil societies depends on the sustainable effort of people inhabiting such societies. Sustainable effort however stems from people with firm and stable identity. This makes sustainable development a product of people whose identity is largely dependable. Contrarily however, it means that unsustainable development in civil societies is largely fostered by human identity crisis. In absence of dependable identity therefore, African nations are laden with poor development glaring in poor leadership, poor human condition, poor institutions and structures. Such unsustainable development has in present time fostered mass agitation, militancy, terrorism and unending secession movements. This paper analytically examines human identity crisis and unsustainable development in Africa. It proffers axiological solutions to the conspicuous identity crisis plaguing the larger population of African continent. The study however finds that African identity crisis is a cultural crisis and progressive societies are stable societies with dependable and authentic identity. The paper therefore concludes that solution to African unsustainable development must begin with tackling the continent's identity crisis which is frustrating evolvement of indigenous theories, practice and development efforts of the people.

2025

African philosophy has now joined in the innovative trends and advances in global philosophical thought. But there has been question on whether African philosophical trends and advances are in consonance with general philosophical principles. This paper, using the method of critical analysis, examines African philosophy, its innovative trends and advances in order to determine their congruence with the form and structure of philosophy. The study acknowledges some positive innovative trends and advances in African philosophy. But the study exposes the ambiguity and irrationality surrounding some African philosophical innovative trends and advances. Consequently, this paper determines how these innovative trends and advances in African philosophy can remain consistent with and fit into global philosophical principles. Along this lane, it analytically contends that African philosophical innovative trends and advances still lack originality and essential philosophical qualities. This is as there are abstractions largely borrowed from Western philosophical current and elsewhere that are brought to bear in these trends and advances. This is, too, as African philosophy is not objectively a fierce critique and protector of the African world. The paper, therefore, concludes that African philosophy will be truly African and philosophical when its nature, structure, form.

2025

Identity in African worldview is not as individuated as it is in the West. Whether called "Ubuntu" or "Communalism", the main idea surrounding African identity is one of "community" or "family-hood". What this means is that, the individual person finds his essence or identity from the community and not from himself. The Corona virus or Covid-19 is a highly transmittable and pathogenic viral infection caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) which emerged in Wuhan, China and spread around the world. It is a virus that is spread mainly by human to human transmission. In relation to the question of identity, the virus attacks individual persons one by one who make up the whole community. From a critical point of analysis therefore, Covid-19 affects the individual in a community and not the community in the individual. This point holds enormous implications for the overall concept of African identity with one of the findings that the individual person is just a person before he is in a community. How the virus affects the individual in the community and what can be done on the part of Africans to mitigate the negative effect both at the individual and community level is what this study seeks to critically examine from the understanding of African identity.

2025

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2025

This article presents an investigation into the pivotal role of ecological habitat management in the preservation of the Critically Endangered Bengal florican (Houbaropsis bengalensis). The study was conducted in the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve and its Buffer Zone area from May 2022 to October 2023. The primary aim was to employ indigenous knowledge for the restoration of degraded grassland habitat and subsequently revive the population of the Bengal florican. Findings indicate that the grassland habitat crucial for the Bengal florican is contingent upon specific grass species, association with grazing herbivores, proximity to water bodies, availability of grains and insects for sustenance, minimal human disturbances, and a partial distribution of bushes within the grassland. This article integrates empirical data derived

2025, NIU Journal of Social Sciences, 10(3), 73-79

This research is focused on Environmental principles and values in Africa: The Christian response. The environment is the habitation of man and all living and non-living things alike. It is being given to man by God to tend and control, however, human activities has greatly impacted it positively and negatively. It is clearer that we live in extraordinary times where human impacts on our environment has been so intensive or so far-reaching negatively. The future of the Earth's system and our society depend more critically than ever on the way we interact with the natural systems around us. Fundamental conditions in nutrient cycling, biodiversity, atmospheric composition and climate are changing rapidly in Africa. Understanding the African environment illuminate not only human-induced problem but tremendous opportunities we have before us for effecting positive change. This discipline draws upon the methods and findings of numerous established academic disciplines, from ecology to geology to chemistry to economics to political science to ethics and religion. This interdisciplinary pursuit stands at the vanguard of the current need to synthesize our increasingly narrow academic disciplines and to incorporate their contributions into a big picture of understanding the African world and our place within it. In the light of this paper, various authors have put forth definitions on environment, environmental justice and principles of environmental, environmental values in Africa via Christian response, African environment and sustainable development principle, the church response on environmental values in Africa. This research made used of analytical method as well as the utilisation of books, journals, internet sources etc., and recommends among others that humans should care for the earth with tenderness for its benevolence and to avert disaster.

2025, Ecology and evolution

2025, International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Growth Evaluation

The sarus crane, Grus antigone antigone is a monogamous, non-migratory and world's tallest flying bird, prefers open habitat like marsh areas, abundantly irrigated paddy fields, grass land and wetland. The Alwara Lake is a part of village Alwara, which is located in Sarsawan block of Manjhanpur tahsil of Kaushambi district of Uttar Pradesh. This lake is a natural perennial wetland. It is surrounded by agricultural fields and connected to the river Yamuna. The ecological condition of this lake supports the survival of vulnerable sarus crane. The population of sarus crane is decreasing at global level but it is increasing in and around the Alwara Lake since about one decade.

2025, LETTERE DALL'ITALIA - TOMO III

Antoine Laurent Castellan (Montpellier, 1772 – Parigi, 1838) è stato un importante pittore vedutista francese. Di ritorno dal suo viaggio in Turchia e Grecia, egli attraversò l'Italia. Nel 1819 pubblicò, in tre volumi, le sue "Lettres sur l'Italie", illustrate con 50 vedute disegnate e incise da lui stesso. Questa è la traduzione in italiano del terzo volume.

2025

This study presents a spatio-temporal analysis of phytotoponyms as indicators of historical vegetation change in the Silesian region, focusing on correlations between toponym density and both current and natural forest cover. Using geographic information systems (GIS), kernel density estimation (KDE) and historical maps, we identified patterns in the distribution of toponyms in relation to deciduous and coniferous forest types. A positive correlation was found between the density of deciduous phytotoponyms and the natural occurrence of deciduous stands, suggesting historical continuity. However, no significant statistical relationship was observed between the location of deciduous phytotoponyms and current deciduous stands, which we argue may be due to the fragmentation of these forests over time. Conversely, the density of conifer phytotoponyms showed a strong negative correlation with both current and natural conifer stands, indicating that areas with a higher density of conifer toponyms are associated with a reduced presence of conifer forests. We propose that this pattern is primarily a result of industrial forestry practices. In addition, a significant correlation was found between the location of conifer phytotoponyms and the distance from current conifer stands, with these toponyms often located further from existing conifer patches. Temporal analysis revealed a shift in toponym creation, with deciduous names dominating earlier periods and a marked increase in coniferous names during industrial afforestation, particularly after 1949. These results underline the usefulness of phytotoponyms in reconstructing historical forest dynamics and highlight their potential as tools for understanding long-term vegetation change and anthropogenic influences on forest management.

2025, AVANT

Environmental ethics deals with discussing the ethical framework of environmental values, their organization and regulation, and their ethical premises. One of the main cul-de-sacs that environmental ethics has is its anthropocentrism that can be observed through its diverse ethical approaches-even ecocentric ones, developed as non-anthropocentric egalitarian alternatives. This article aims to question the exclusiveness of Anthropos, the practices, values, and discourses that determine the scope and course of environmental ethics, and the exclusion of nonhuman animals or more-than human beings from its focus. It first examines the main approaches in environmental ethics (land ethic, deep ecology, social ecology, and postmodern environmental ethics)biocentric, ecocentric, anthropocentric, socialist, postmodern-and reveals that they are but limited to the human perspective, deeply rooted in human exceptionalism. All of these approaches provide us with a critical frame that still needs to be deconstructed so that they will not project an anthropocentric orientation. This article posits that the compass of environmental ethics, recently aligning itself to embrace the more-than-human world in its ecocentric attitude, still needs to be revisited for its discourses of exclusion. At this point, new materialism functions as a prolific theoretical site as it diminishes the classical boundaries between human and animal or subject and object that anthropocentric environmental ethics relies on. With such concepts as "agential realism" (Barad), "transcorporeal ethics" (Alaimo), "vibrant matter" (Bennett), or "storied matter" (Oppermann and Iovino) the new materialist view of the human and the nonhuman evolves to end set dualities in the discourses of environmental ethics. This article concludes that the new materialist theory destabilizes any anthropocentric position in environmental ethics and includes more-than-human beings in its ethical focus, discarding any dualities that serve anthropocentrism or human exceptionalism.

2025

2025, Conservation Ecology

A growing number of studies quantify the impact of nonlethal human disturbance on the behavior and reproductive success of animals. Athough many are well designed and analytically sophisticated, most lack a theoretical framework for making predictions and for understanding why particular responses occur. Behavioral ecologists have recently begun to fill this theoretical vacuum by applying economic models of antipredator behavior to disturbance studies. In this emerging paradigm, predation and nonlethal disturbance stimuli create similar trade-offs between avoiding perceived risk and other fitness-enhancing activities, such as feeding, parental care, or mating. A vast literature supports the hypothesis that antipredator behavior has a cost to other activities, and that this trade-off is optimized when investment in antipredator behavior tracks short-term changes in predation risk. Prey have evolved antipredator responses to generalized threatening stimuli, such as loud noises and rapidly approaching objects. Thus, when encountering disturbance stimuli ranging from the dramatic, lowflying helicopter to the quiet wildlife photographer, animal responses are likely to follow the same economic principles used by prey encountering predators. Some authors have argued that, similar to predation risk, disturbance stimuli can indirectly affect fitness and population dynamics via the energetic and lost opportunity costs of risk avoidance. We elaborate on this argument by discussing why, from an evolutionary perspective, disturbance stimuli should be analogous to predation risk. We then consider disturbance effects on the behavior of individuals-vigilance, fleeing, habitat selection, mating displays, and parental investment-as well as indirect effects on populations and communities. A wider application of predation risk theory to disturbance studies should increase the generality of predictions and make mitigation more effective without over-regulating human activities. Abrams, P. A. 1993. Why predation rate should not be proportional to predator density. Ecology 74:726-733. Allen, M. C., and A. J. Read. 2000. Habitat selection of foraging bottlenose dolphins in relation to boat density near Clearwater, Florida. Marine Mammal Science 16:815-824. Anderson, D. W. 1988. Dose-response relationship between human disturbance and brown pelican breeding success. Wildlife Society Bulletin 16:339-345.

2025, Veterinarski Arhiv

1Department of Pharmacology, Veterinary Physiology and Physiological Chemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia University, Bulgaria 2Department of Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia University, Bulgaria 3Department of Internal Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia University, Bulgaria 4High School of Veterinary Medicine, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria 5Department of Morphology, Animal Physiology and Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture, Trakia University, Bulgaria

2025

This paper established the reality of environmental problems. It asks whether human beings should concern themselves with environmental preservation or not. That is, whether we should care about the creation and our environment, or we should just live on and not see this challenge as our problem. This research aims at restating that, environmental preservation is necessary. It is a purely qualitative research. The method adopted is the purely objective method and critical theological analysis from a historical theology and biblical perspective. The hermeneutical method is strictly histo-grammatical. The research points to the fact that human activities serve as the cause of many environmental problems. It also pointed out that for a long time, people in different parts of the world have made effortsincluding enacting laws-to help mitigate environmental problems. While it is understandable that considerable progress has been made; there have been breaking of laws and advocacy campaigns have been are undermined. However, environmental preservation is a divine mandate, a responsibility for people to undertake. Though the fall of Adam has tempered with that sense of duty, this mandate remains. I concluded that: since Christ has restored the relationship with God for all the sons of Adam who call on the name of the LORD; it is imperative for the children of God to restore their relationship with nature and the environment. Thus, to 'dress and keep' the garden remains a mandate for the children of God, a divine mandate.

2025, Trees, Forests and People

This study aims to estimate the adoption rate of genetically advanced loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) seedlings and better understand the factors influencing seedling choice among family forest landowners and consulting foresters in Georgia, a major forestry state in the Southern United States. We conducted two online surveys, one for landowners and one for registered foresters in Georgia. Our findings reveal that the adoption rate, self-reported knowledge, and positive perceptions of genetically advanced loblolly pine seedlings were high among respondents of both surveys. The adoption rate was 13.5 % of all managed forestlands by foresters (29.3 % for managed loblolly pine stands) and 18.0 % of all the forestlands (37.4 % of managed loblolly pine stands) owned by family forest landowners. Reasons for adopting among both groups included fast growth and favorable financial outcomes. However, barriers to adoption include cost, beliefs that other factors are equally or more important than the genetics of seedlings, and the need for more evidence. Furthermore, a high proportion of each group expressed an interest in adopting genetically advanced seedlings for increasing carbon revenue over time. Our findings suggest that more research about the related benefits is needed to increase the adoption of genetically advanced loblolly pine seedlings. We also found that communicating these benefits using trusted sources is also necessary. Our study will feed into the growing movement for using better genetics to improve forest productivity and reduce forest health issues in Georgia and beyond, especially on family forestlands, as they supply the majority of roundwood and other forest-based ecosystem services.

2025, Biological report

On 12-13 April 1988 a workshop on the analysis of avian population trends was held at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Laurel, Maryland. The workshop was cosponsored by the Branch of Migratory Bird Research of the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center and the Office of Migratory Bird Management. During this workshop, we hoped to bring together some of the biologists and statisticians that coordinate and analyze data from major bird surveys to discuss recent advances in analytical methods of estimating population trends. The workshop had three sessions: one to describe some of the major surveys used to estimate population trends, one to discuss analytical methods, and one to consider population trends of a selected species: scissor-tailed flycatchers (Tyrallllus forficatus), for which a data set from the North American Breeding Bird Survey had been distributed to participants before the meeting. These proceedings present the results of the workshop. The papers are organized into three parts, following the design of the workshop. Part I is composed of papers that describe the design of major avian surveys, along with reviews of the constraints that the designs place on the analysis of population trends. Part II presents some of the major analytical methods that are used to estimate population trends. There is a good deal of diversity among the papers in this part, with some papers discussing overall approaches to surveys and their analysis, others attempting to analyze the relations among the methods, and some presenting only a specific method of analysis. Several papers broach general questions of sample size allocation for roadside surveys and associated technical questions. Part III contains three analyses of the scissor-tailed flycatcher data set: two variants of the route-regression method and a nonparametric analysis.

2025, Insect Conservation and Diversity

1. Bowl and pan traps are now commonly used to capture bees (Hymenoptera: Apiformes) for research and surveys. 2. Studies of how arrangement and spacing of bowl traps affect captures of bees are needed to increase the efficiency of this capture technique. 3. We present results from seven studies of bowl traps placed in trapping webs, grids, and transects in four North American ecoregions (Mid-Atlantic, Coastal California, Chihuahuan Desert, and Columbia Plateau). 4. Over 6000 specimens from 31 bee genera were captured and analysed across the studies. 5. Based on the results from trapping webs and distance tests, the per bowl capture rate of bees does not plateau until bowls are spaced 3-5 m apart. 6. Minor clumping of bee captures within transects was detected, with 26 of 56 transects having index of dispersion values that conform to a clumped distribution and 39 transects having positive Green's index values, 13 with zero, and only four negative. However, degree of clumping was slight with an average value of only 0.06 (the index ranges from )1 to 1) with only five values >0.15. Similarly, runs tests were significant for only 5.9% of the transects. 7. Results indicate that (i) capture rates are unaffected by short distances between bowls within transects and (ii) that bowls and transects should be dispersed throughout a study site.

2025

Desde el 1993, la envasadora de agua mineral Vittel ha conducido un programa de PSH en una cuenca de 5.100 hectáreas (ha) en las Montañas Vosges. El programa paga a 27 finqueros de la cuenca para adoptar mejores prácticas en ganadería de leche. El programa se implementa a través de Agrivair, una agencia de extensión agrícola creada por los compradores, en la cual confían los agricultores. Agrivair ha persuadido a los ganaderos a cambiarse a una ganadería extensiva de bajo impacto, incluyendo la sustitución de agroquímicos, producción de compost a partir de desechos animales, y la reducción del hato ganadero. El programa combina: pagos en efectivo con asistencia técnica, el reembolso de costos incrementales de mano de obra, así como arreglos para asumir la tenencia de ciertas tierras y otorgar derechos de uso a los agricultores. Los contratos son de 18 a 30 años, y los pagos son diferenciados de acuerdo al costo de oportunidad. Tanto el uso de la tierra, como la calidad del agua, son cuidadosamente monitoreados. Los costos totales (excluyendo a los costos de transacción del intermediario) fueron casi US$25 millones entre los años 1993 y 2000. El monitoreo ha demostrado una mejora del servicio hídrico comparado con la línea base y el alto valor del servicio ha hecho que las inversiones sean rentables. Para ilustrar el concepto de PSA, un buen punto de partida es el siguiente. En una definición-aunque no universalmente aceptada-las transacciones de PSA son: (1) voluntarias (2) entre al menos un comprador del servicio (3) y al menos un vendedor, (4) enfocadas en un servicio bien definido (o un uso del suelo que probablemente proporcione ese servicio), y (5) condicional al cumplimiento de un contrato. 1

2025, NIU Journal of Social Sciences

2025, International Journal of Biological Innovations

The present study was conducted to evaluate the impact of over-exploitation of natural resources and tree harvesting on the diversity and distribution of avian species around Gauri Sarovar, Bhind. Bird surveys were carried out during dawn and dusk using point count and line transect methods across different localities over a two-year period, from October 2021 to September 2023. A diverse range of 74 bird species, representing 11 orders and 26 families, were observed. The distribution of bird species across families revealed that 10 species belonged to the family Anatidae, while 9 species were from the families Ardeidae and Scolopacidae. Families such as Threskiornithidae, Rallidae, Charadriidae, and Motacillidae were represented by 4 species each. Phalacrocoracidae, Alcedinidae, and Sturnidae had 3 species each, while several other families, including Ciconiidae, Jacanidae, Estrildidae, Hirundinidae, and Cisticolidae, were represented by 2 species each while 11 families were represented by single species. Currently, the ecological conditions in the areas surrounding Gauri Sarovar support a moderate bird population. Authors observed that ongoing construction of the Gauri Sarovar Bridge badly influencing the diversity and distribution of avian species. As bird communities are highly responsive to anthropogenic pressures, the study recommends the restoration of large forest patches and wellplanned conservation-focused reforestation efforts.

2025, Herpetological Review

2025, … Conservation and Biology

Sexual size dimorphism is common in turtles, with greater size in most species favoring females. However, in Blanding's Turtles, which are among the longest-lived freshwater turtles for which field data are available, males are slightly larger. Nova Scotia's three known populations are disjunct from those in the species main range in south central Canada and north central United States and occupy different habitats that may exert different environmental pressures on the turtles. We compared body size and sexual size dimorphism across four distinct populations to identify any patterns that might reflect divergent environments. Sexual size dimorphism was consistently male biased in all populations, but differed significantly in degree across populations, suggesting that the environment exhibits a significant effect on size and growth rate. Indeterminate growth was evident in both sexes pooled across populations. The growth rate of adult males exceeds that of adult females, and juvenile growth rate exceeds that of adults regardless of population.

2025

Pangi Binangga Nature Reserve is one of eight nature reserves in Central Sulawesi. In 1998, Pangi Binangga was designated as a conservation area, however, the diversty of the plant species not been recognized and reported. Pangi Binangga Nature Reserve is a lowland forest with vegetation and grassland forest, with primary and secondary forest vegetation. The objectives of this research are to provide informations of plant species in the Pangi Binangga Area. Exploration method was conducted throughout the region, and found 518 species. Rubiaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Moraceae, Compositae, Araceae, Urticaceae dominate in Pangi Binangga forest. Four species of them are endemic to Sulawesi, five species belong to endangered plants and 10 species of invasive. ABSTRAK Cagar Alam (CA) Pangi Binangga merupakan satu dari delapan cagar alam di Sulawesi Tengah. Sejak tahun 1998, hutan Pangi Binangga ditunjuk sebagai kawasan konservasi, namun keragaman spesies tumbuhannya belum dienumerasi dan dilapo...